Starting July 1, 2026, South Dakota will set aside $5 million from state education funds specifically for extraordinary expenses related to special education services for children with disabilities. The bill also allows unused funds to carry over year to year instead of reverting to the state, up to a maximum reserve of $5.5 million annually.
AI-generated summary
The amendment increases the annual set-aside for special education extraordinary expenses from four million to five million dollars, effective July 1, 2026, while removing automatic annual increases tied to an index factor and capping the total reserve at five million five hundred thousand dollars. This change STRENGTHENS funding for special education by raising the baseline amount but NARROWS the bill's scope by eliminating the mechanism for future cost-of-living adjustments.
The amendment increased the annual set-aside for special education extraordinary expenses from four million dollars to five million dollars, effective July 1, 2026, and changed the spending approval process from an oversight board recommendation to direct provision under § 13-37-60. This change STRENGTHENS the bill's funding commitment to special education programs while streamlining the authorization mechanism.
Signed by the Governor S.J. 550
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 539
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 560
Signed by the President S.J. 525
Senate Concurred in amendments Passed, YEAS 20, NAYS 11. S.J. 514
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 54, NAYS 15. H.J. 539
Committee on Appropriations Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 2.
Committee on Appropriations Motion to amend
Committee on Appropriations Scheduled for hearing H.J. 1
Committee on Appropriations Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Committee on Appropriations H.J. 445
Senate Do Pass Passed, YEAS 23, NAYS 10. S.J. 375
Committee on Appropriations Do Pass Passed, YEAS 5, NAYS 3.
Committee on Appropriations Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
Committee on Appropriations Scheduled for hearing
Education Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 1. S.J. 7
Education Scheduled for hearing
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Education S.J. 74
Concurred in amendments
Do Pass Amended
Committee on Appropriations — Do Pass Amended
Do Pass
Committee on Appropriations — Do Pass
Education — Referred to