South Dakota House advances multiple bills on education, infrastructure, budget and livestock fees; Richmond Lake dam funding cleared

The South Dakota House of Representatives approved a series of bills Feb. 24 that the chambersaid supporters called measures to shore up public-safety infrastructure, support schools and clarify timelines for military children with special-education plans.

The most urgent measure addressed safety at Richmond Lake: Representative Nordstrom, State Representative, said engineers for the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources identified the Richmond Lake Dam as the highest-risk of the 97 state-owned dams and that replacement of the embankment and spillway is required. The House gave final passage to House Bill 10-26 with a two-thirds vote; the clerk recorded "ayes, 70," and the bill was declared passed.

Why it matters: lawmakers said the dam failure risk could threaten lives and property downstream. Representative Nordstrom noted the departmentcounted 1,790 residents at risk plus motorists on a nearby highway. The bill carries an emergency clause and was described as including previously secured FEMA funding.

Also receiving final passage was House Bill 10-92, a one-time student-teacher stipend program that directs $5,000 grants to districts to help retain student teachers. Representative Kassem, State Representative, described the bill as "a one-time funding request to provide $5,000 grants to school districts across South Dakota," and said the measure responds to roughly 200 statewide teacher openings and recruiting pressure from neighboring states. The House approved HB 10-92 by recorded vote, "ayes, 59; nays, 11."

The House approved a bill to formalize the state's long-standing practice of maintaining a combined rainy-day balance of 10% of annual expenditures. Representative Kassem said House Bill 10-36 "formalizes the long standing practice" and provides a path to replenish the fund if the balance falls below 10%. The bill passed, "ayes, 53; nays, 17."

Lawmakers also raised the livestock inspection fee by allowing the Brand Board to increase the inspection fee from $1.00 to $1.35 for a year. Representative Overwig, State Representative, said the emergency clause was added "so they don't run out of money by the end of the year." House Bill 12-13 passed with the two-thirds majority required: "ayes, 60; nays, 10."

On education and military families, the House passed Senate Bill 109, which requires school districts to adopt existing individualized education plans (IEPs), individualized family service plans (IFSPs) or Section 504 plans for incoming military students within 30 calendar days. Representative Reimer, State Representative, said the bill "adopts special education plans within 30 days of arrival of a military student" and that the measure implements a timeline rather than creating new services. Supporters said the change aligns with Department of Defense priorities tied to the planned B-21 mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The House recorded the vote as "ayes, 62; nays, 8."

Other appropriation and vehicle bills also passed: House Bills 11-67, 11-68 and 11-70 (vehicle appropriation bills) each cleared the House on the required two-thirds votes; House Bill 11-67 passed, "ayes, 56; nays, 14," House Bill 11-68 passed, "ayes, 58; nays, 12," and House Bill 11-70 passed, "ayes, 56; nays, 14." The House also approved Senate Bill 65, authorizing sale of federal surplus property in Pennington County, "ayes, 51; nays, 19."

A motion to reconsider the earlier loss of House Bill 10-25 failed after a recorded tie on the reconsideration vote, with the clerk reporting "ayes, 35; nays, 35," and the motion declared lost.

What supporters and opponents said: Representative Reeder, State Representative, urged passage of SB 109 as a preemptive step to ease the transition for incoming military families and noted the bill passed the Senate 34-1. Representative Goodwin, State Representative, emphasized the economic and strategic importance of the B-21 mission and said the state should "be in position to get those as well." Representative Malawi, State Representative, questioned the sale proceeds language in SB 65, saying local donors may have intended state ownership rather than sale; Representative Derby acknowledged he did not have the immediate answer about the proceeds distribution.

Votes at a glance (selected final passage tallies)

- House Bill 1,200 (as amended): Passed, ayes 61, nays 8, excused 1. - House Bill 12-13 (livestock inspection fee, emergency clause): Passed, ayes 60, nays 10. - House Bill 10-36 (budget reserve minimum): Passed, ayes 53, nays 17. - House Bill 11-67 (vehicle appropriation): Passed, ayes 56, nays 14. - House Bill 11-68 (appropriation): Passed, ayes 58, nays 12. - House Bill 11-70 (appropriation): Passed, ayes 56, nays 14. - House Bill 10-26 (Richmond Lake Dam appropriation, emergency): Passed, ayes 70. - House Bill 10-92 (student teacher stipend grants): Passed, ayes 59, nays 11. - Senate Bill 65 (sale of surplus property, Pennington County): Passed, ayes 51, nays 19. - Senate Bill 109 (special-education timelines for military students): Passed, ayes 62, nays 8. - Senate Bill 71 (compulsory attendance age revisions): Passed, ayes 61, nays 9. - Rayfeld motion to reconsider House Bill 10-25: Failed, ayes 35, nays 35.

The House also passed the consent calendar earlier in the day; the clerk displayed "ayes 66; nays 4." Several items on the consent calendar were removed at members' request for separate consideration.

Looking ahead, members scheduled the next floor session to reconvene at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25. Several committee hearings and meetings were announced for the coming day, including joint appropriations and House transportation.