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require education in prenatal human growth and development.
South Dakota schools must now teach students about prenatal development using materials recommended by the state Board of Education Standards, including videos or animations showing fetal development from fertilization through birth and depicting organs at various stages. The instruction must include at least three-minute videos showing the brain, heart, and other major organs, and cannot use any materials produced by organizations that perform, promote, or refer patients for abortions.
require the display of the state motto in public schools and provide for associated legal representation.
South Dakota public schools must now display the state motto "Under God the People Rule" on a plaque or other form at least 11 by 8.5 inches in size, positioned in a prominent location like an entryway or cafeteria. If a school district or its employees are sued over displaying this state motto (or the existing national motto), the state attorney general will provide free legal representation and cover all related costs, including any damages or attorney's fees owed.
restrict the use of a cell phone by a student during the school day.
South Dakota schools must prohibit students from using cell phones during the school day, with exceptions only for medical needs, educational accommodations, or emergencies. Each school district's board will create its own discipline policy for students who violate this rule.
codify the rights of a parent.
SB 190 creates a new law that establishes parental rights as a fundamental protection, preventing state agencies and local governments from restricting parents' ability to direct their children's upbringing, education, health care, and moral or religious training unless the government can prove it has a compelling reason to do so. The bill specifically lists parental rights including decisions about health care, access to medical and school records, choice of education, religious excuses from school, and participation in school organizations.
permit the board of a school district to require that certain students receive instruction in alternative settings.
School district boards can now assign students who engage in aggressive or violent behavior that disrupts school or threatens safety to receive instruction in alternative settings instead of regular classrooms. School districts must report annually to the Department of Education how many students were placed in alternative settings, though the state can only publicly share this data in anonymized and combined form across all districts.
prohibit a video streaming service from transmitting certain advertising during children's programming and provide a penalty therefor.
This bill prohibits video streaming services (like Netflix or Disney+) from showing advertisements about abortion, alcohol, drugs, gambling, gender transition, or nicotine during children's programming rated for viewers under 14. The law applies only to streaming services and excludes traditional broadcast television, cable, and satellite providers. Violations would result in penalties under South Dakota law.
revise provisions pertaining to requirements for students receiving alternative instruction.
This bill changes who must take state academic tests in South Dakota schools by requiring students receiving alternative instruction (like homeschooling) to take the same assessments if they live in a school district, whereas previously these requirements may have been unclear or different. The bill also repeals an outdated provision and updates related rules about alternative instruction programs. Overall, it establishes clearer standards for testing all students regardless of their educational setting, as long as they reside within a district.