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increase the dollar amount of South Dakota opportunity scholarships.

South Dakota Opportunity Scholarships will increase in dollar amounts for students who first receive the award after July 1, 2023. Students in their first three years will receive $1,300 annually (up from $1,300 for those who started before July 1, 2023), and fourth-year students will receive $2,600 annually (up from $2,600 for earlier cohorts). The bill also clarifies the payment schedule, requiring half the scholarship to be paid at the start of fall semester and half at the start of spring semester.

provide free tuition for a resident whose parent died while on active duty in the United States armed forces.

This bill expands South Dakota's tuition waiver program to include children whose parent died while serving in the U.S. armed forces, not just those whose parents died while serving in the South Dakota National Guard. The benefit already existed for National Guard families; this change extends the same free tuition at state universities to dependents of any U.S. military member who died on active duty.

make an appropriation for the demolition and reconstruction of agricultural-use structures at South Dakota State University, and to declare an emergency.

HB1032 appropriates state funds to demolish and rebuild agricultural-use buildings at South Dakota State University. The bill declares an emergency so the money can be spent immediately rather than waiting for the normal budget process.

authorize enrolled tribal members to attend certain institutions of higher education without payment of tuition and mandatory fees.

Enrolled members of federally recognized Indian tribes located in or partially in South Dakota can now attend any state university or technical college tuition-free for up to four academic years. The state will only cover these costs after the student has used any federal tuition benefits they qualify for, such as tribal scholarships or federal aid.

repeal the annual grievance reporting requirements for health carriers.

HB1012 eliminates the requirement that health insurance carriers file annual reports to the state about customer complaints and grievances. This removes a regular reporting obligation that previously gave state regulators information about problems customers experienced with their health insurance plans.

authorize the participation of tenth grade students in the dual credit program.

HB1122 expands South Dakota's dual credit program to allow tenth grade students to participate, whereas current law only permits students in grades eleven and twelve to enroll. The bill keeps all other program rules the same, including tuition costs (students pay about one-third, the state pays about two-thirds) and academic standards set by colleges and technical schools.

improve education outcomes and college affordability.

provide free school lunches for students.

South Dakota law currently allows school districts to charge students for meals, but this bill eliminates that practice by requiring all student meals through school food services programs to be free. School districts can still charge employees for meals, but the state Department of Education will reimburse districts for the cost of student meals not covered by the federal National School Lunch Program.

establish the stronger families scholarship program for children in foster care, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota is creating a new "Stronger Families Scholarship Program" that gives $4,000 annual scholarships to children in foster care to help pay for education-related expenses, starting in the 2023-2024 school year. The state is appropriating $15 million from the general fund to establish and run this program through nonprofit scholarship organizations. This is a new program with no changes to existing law.

establish a uniform method for calculating high school credit received from completing postsecondary courses.

South Dakota high school students can already take college courses for dual credit, but schools have been calculating how much high school credit to award for these courses differently. This bill requires the state Board of Education Standards to create a uniform statewide method for calculating that high school credit so all students are treated consistently, regardless of which school district they attend.

To recommend the Executive Board establish a task force to study a potential optional educational path.

HCR 6001 asks the Executive Board of the South Dakota Legislature to create a task force that will study a new educational path option for students, though the bill text provided does not specify what that educational path would be. This is a request for study and planning rather than a change to current law.

make an appropriation for design costs related to the health services center at Black Hills State University–Rapid City, and to declare an emergency.

SB 172 provides state funding to cover the design and planning costs for a new health services center at Black Hills State University's Rapid City campus. The bill declares this an emergency measure, allowing the funds to be spent immediately rather than waiting for the normal budget cycle.

modify the compulsory age for school attendance.

South Dakota law currently requires children to attend school until age 18, but this bill lowers that requirement to age 16—allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to leave school early if they pass a high school equivalency test, with parental permission and approval from a school administrator, court officer, or other designated authority. The change gives teenagers an alternative path out of the compulsory attendance requirement instead of requiring them to stay in school until graduation or age 18.