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direct the Department of Education to use certain fall enrollments when calculating state aid for school districts that declined in enrollment between 2020 and 2021.

HB 1064 helps school districts that lost students during the pandemic by allowing the Department of Education to use earlier enrollment numbers when calculating their state funding. Instead of counting the reduced 2020-2021 enrollment figures that would lower a district's aid, the bill lets them use higher fall enrollment numbers from before the decline to protect their state funding levels.

make an appropriation to the Department of Tribal Relations to fund the Native American achievement schools grant program.

HB 1189 provides funding to the Department of Tribal Relations to support the Native American achievement schools grant program, which helps schools serve Native American students. This is a new appropriation (budget allocation) rather than a change to existing law—it simply dedicates state money to this educational initiative.

make an appropriation to the Department of Education for the Teach for America grant program.

The state will provide $500,000 to the Department of Education to fund the Teach for America grant program, which recruits and places teachers in schools serving low-income students, particularly on Native American reservations. The bill updates the existing program language to reflect that the state will work with private contributors to expand the program. Any money not spent by June 30, 2027 will be returned to the general fund.

make an appropriation to the Department of Education to provide grants to organizations that provide early education programs.

SB 194 provides state funding to the Department of Education to award grants to organizations that offer early education programs for young children. The bill modifies the existing appropriations law to establish this new grant program aimed at expanding access to quality early learning opportunities.

revise the general state aid formula to provide adjustment for alternative education students participating in interscholastic activities.

This bill adjusts how South Dakota calculates state education funding for school districts by adding a small boost for alternative education students who participate in school sports. Specifically, districts can now count 10% of their alternative education students engaged in interscholastic activities toward their total enrollment figure used in the state aid formula, giving schools modest additional funding when these students participate in sports.

reduce the maximum property tax levies for the general fund of school districts.

This bill reduces the maximum property tax rates that school districts can charge on three categories of property starting in 2023. The general tax levy cap drops from $6.52 to $6.37 per $1,000 of property value, the agricultural property cap falls from $1.49 to $1.37 per $1,000, and the owner-occupied home cap decreases from $3.15 to $3.08 per $1,000. These lower limits mean school districts will collect less property tax revenue unless they receive approval to exceed the new maximums.

revise property tax levies for school districts and to revise the state aid to general and special education formulas.

This bill reduces the maximum property tax levy that school districts can charge for their general fund, effective for taxes payable in 2023 and beyond. The overall school levy drops from $6.52 to $5.60 per $1,000 of property value, while agricultural property levies fall from $1.40 to $1.35 per $1,000, and owner-occupied home levies decrease from $3.15 to $2.30 per $1,000. These lower tax caps are accompanied by revisions to how the state calculates its aid to schools to help offset the reduced local tax revenue.

add solar energy tax revenue to the calculation of local effort for state aid to school districts.

HB 1081 changes how the state calculates school districts' local tax effort when determining how much state education funding they receive. The bill adds revenue from solar energy taxes to the calculation of local effort, meaning districts with solar installations will be considered to have more local resources and may receive less state aid as a result. This shift affects how state aid dollars are distributed among school districts based on their local tax base.

modify tuition responsibilities for children in residential treatment centers.

HB 1302 clarifies that school districts must pay tuition for children in residential treatment centers according to existing state law procedures, rather than leaving the payment responsibility unclear. The bill also adds definitions for "intensive residential treatment center" and "residential treatment center" to specify which facilities fall under these tuition rules.

appropriate money for the ordinary expenses of the legislative, judicial, and executive departments of the state, the current expenses of state institutions, interest on the public debt, and for common schools.

HB1338 is South Dakota's general appropriations bill that allocates state money for the day-to-day operations of the legislature, courts, governor's office, state institutions, and public schools, as well as payments on the state's debt. The bill amends the state budget law (SDCL 13-8-14) to authorize spending for these core government functions for the current fiscal year.

appropriate money for the ordinary expenses of the legislative, judicial, and executive departments of the state, the current expenses of state institutions, interest on the public debt, and for common schools.

HB1340 is the state budget bill that funds the day-to-day operations of South Dakota's legislature, courts, executive branch agencies, public schools, and state institutions for the fiscal year. The bill appropriates state money to cover ordinary expenses and interest payments on the state's public debt across all three branches of government.

require renovation estimates on certain school facilities before replacement.

South Dakota school districts must now get an independent architect or engineer to estimate the cost of renovating an existing school building before the district can contract to build a brand new replacement facility. The requirement doesn't apply if the state fire marshal has condemned the building. This change ensures school boards consider renovation as an alternative to replacement before committing to new construction.

provide for the creation and funding of Oceti Sakowin community-based schools.

This bill creates a new process for establishing Oceti Sakowin community-based schools—schools that teach South Dakota Native American history, culture, and standards alongside regular academics. Nonprofits can apply to local school district boards for sponsorship to operate these schools, and the application must include details about the school's mission, structure, staff qualifications, facilities, and how it will measure student success.

provide for the establishment of education savings accounts.

South Dakota creates a new education savings account program that gives money to families whose children attend private schools or receive alternative education (like homeschooling or virtual school) to cover tuition, fees, computers, tutoring, and related educational expenses. The state Department of Education will establish individual accounts for participating students and deposit funds into them annually from the state education budget.

revise certain provisions related to the partners in education tax credit program.

This bill increases the annual spending cap for the Partners in Education tax credit program from $2 million to $3.5 million per year. Companies that donate to education programs can claim tax credits against their state taxes, but the total credits available statewide are now capped at this higher amount starting in fiscal year 2023.

partially reallocate federal payments from national forests.

This bill redirects 10% of the federal forest payments that South Dakota receives from the Black Hills and Custer National Forests away from local counties and toward two new programs: a Native American achievement schools grant program and a tribal government infrastructure improvement fund. Previously, all of these federal payments went to the five affected counties (Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Custer, and Fall River for Black Hills; Harding County for Custer National Forest) for roads and schools, but now those counties will receive 90% while the remaining 10% supports Native American education and tribal infrastructure projects.

establish the paraprofessional tuition assistance program, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota creates a new paraprofessional tuition assistance program to help school paraprofessionals earn full teacher certification by covering their college costs at accredited in-state universities. Eligible paraprofessionals must be employed at participating public schools and receive a principal's recommendation, and they must enroll in an elementary or secondary education degree program. The Department of Tribal Relations will administer the program and select participants.

reallocate federal payments from national forests.

This bill redirects federal payments that South Dakota receives from two national forests—the Black Hills National Forest and the Custer National Forest—away from county roads and schools and toward new state grant programs instead. Money from the Black Hills National Forest now goes to a Native American achievement schools grant program, while Custer National Forest payments go to a local infrastructure improvement fund reserved for tribal governments. Instead of directly benefiting the five counties surrounding Black Hills National Forest and Harding County, these federal forest revenues will now support statewide programs focused on Native American education and tribal infrastructure.

provide for the payment of signing bonuses to school district staff members.

This bill expands South Dakota's signing bonus law to cover all school district staff members, not just teachers. School districts can now offer signing bonuses, moving expenses, or tuition reimbursement to any employee they hire, with payments made either as a lump sum after the first year or spread over up to three years.

make an appropriation to the Department of Education to improve and renovate the Cultural Heritage Center and to declare an emergency.

HB 1047 appropriates state funding to the Department of Education specifically for improvements and renovations to the Cultural Heritage Center. The bill declares an emergency, which allows the funding to take effect immediately rather than waiting for the standard effective date.

prolong requirements for increasing teacher compensation.

HB 1080 extends the deadline for school districts to meet teacher compensation requirements, pushing the compliance period from ending in 2021 to continuing through 2024. Currently, school districts must use at least 85% of new state education funding to increase teacher salaries and benefits; this bill prolonged that mandate for several additional years rather than letting it expire. Districts that fail to meet these requirements face penalties to their state education funding.

make an appropriation to the Department of Tribal Relations to support certain children first learning centers that promote the teaching of the Lakota language and to declare an emergency.

HB1191 appropriates state funding to the Department of Tribal Relations to support children's learning centers that teach the Lakota language. The bill declares this funding matter an emergency, which allows it to take effect immediately rather than waiting for the standard effective date. This is new spending that supports early childhood education programs focused on preserving and teaching Native American language.

require insurers to provide coverage for hearing aids and related services to persons under age nineteen.

# SB 89 Summary Insurance companies in South Dakota must now cover hearing aids and related services for patients under age 19. This expands what health insurers are required to pay for, ensuring young people with hearing loss have access to these devices and services at no additional cost to families.

address elementary and secondary education.