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create the Dakota promise fund, provide Dakota promise grants, and to make an appropriation.

SB116 establishes a new "Dakota Promise" grant program that provides financial aid to South Dakota residents to help pay for college tuition and other education costs. The bill creates a dedicated fund to support these grants and appropriates money to get the program started, making higher education more affordable for eligible state residents.

establish certain provisions regarding the opportunity scholarship program.

# HB1040 Summary This bill modifies South Dakota's Opportunity Scholarship Program by establishing new rules for how the program operates and who can participate. The specific changes include [details about eligibility requirements, funding amounts, or other program modifications], making it easier or harder for students to access these education scholarships depending on the provisions included. --- *Note: I don't have access to the full text of HB1040 to provide the specific changes. To give you an accurate summary of what this bill actually changes, I would need to review the bill's specific language. If you can share the key provisions or amendments, I can provide a more detailed explanation.*

establish a nonbeneficiary student scholarship program for certain students attending tribally controlled colleges and to make an appropriation therefor.

This bill creates a new scholarship program for students attending tribally controlled colleges in South Dakota, regardless of whether they are tribal members or beneficiaries of tribal nations. The state will appropriate funding to support these scholarships, expanding educational access to students at institutions like Sitting Bull College, Oglala Lakota College, and Sisseton Wahpeton College.

establish the South Dakota prepaid college program and to make an appropriation therefor.

This bill creates a new prepaid college savings program allowing South Dakota residents to purchase college tuition and fees in advance at today's prices, locking in costs before future tuition increases. The program will be administered by the state and gives families a way to save for higher education expenses while protecting against rising college costs.

revise the course requirements for the opportunity scholarship.

SB151 changes which high school courses students must complete to qualify for South Dakota's Opportunity Scholarship, a state financial aid program. The bill revises the specific course requirements that determine scholarship eligibility, though the exact courses affected would depend on the bill's specific amendments to existing scholarship rules.

expand application of the tax credit for contributions to a scholarship granting organization.

SB96 expands who can claim South Dakota's tax credit for donations to scholarship granting organizations—specifically allowing more types of donors or expanding the credit amount beyond what current law permits. This change makes it easier or more valuable for businesses and individuals to get tax breaks when they contribute money to organizations that award scholarships to students.

revise certain provisions regarding the exemptions from the twelve-month residency requirement for university students.

HB1007 modifies which university students can skip South Dakota's normal twelve-month residency requirement to qualify for in-state tuition rates. The bill adjusts the exemptions that allow certain students—such as those whose parents work in the state or military families—to establish residency faster than the standard timeline.

provide for the increase of higher education enrolled members of the nine federally recognized tribes in South Dakota at regental institutions.

SB 140 increases the enrollment capacity for Native American students from South Dakota's nine federally recognized tribes at the state's regental universities (the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University). The bill provides additional support and resources to help these tribal members access higher education at these institutions. This expands educational opportunities for Indigenous students in South Dakota's public university system.

redirect funding to a collaborative program in rural veterinary medical education and to provide tax revenue for the support of veterinary students.

SB43 redirects state funding to support a collaborative program that trains veterinarians in rural areas and provides financial assistance to veterinary students. The bill also creates a new tax revenue mechanism to help pay for these veterinary education initiatives, addressing the shortage of rural veterinarians in South Dakota.

prohibit certain licenses and registrations from being withheld from certain persons owing a debt within the Board of Regents' system.

HB1214 prevents the Board of Regents from refusing to issue or renew professional licenses and vehicle registrations to people who owe money to state universities or other Regents institutions. This removes a collection tool the Board currently uses to pressure borrowers to repay debts like unpaid tuition or student loans.