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House rejects bill requiring state seal or motto in public school classrooms
Summary
The South Dakota House of Representatives voted 30-38 to defeat House Bill 11‑05, which would have required public school classrooms to display the state seal or motto. Lawmakers debated local control and the necessity of the mandate before final passage was rejected.
Pierre — The South Dakota House of Representatives on Feb. 11 defeated House Bill 11‑05, a measure that would have required public school classrooms to display the state seal or the state motto, by a vote of 30 in favor to 38 opposed with one member excused.
Rep. Jensen, sponsor of the bill, described the proposal as a simple measure to place the state seal or motto in classrooms and recounted historical background about the motto’s origins. "We can do better. Let's pass HB 11‑05 as amended," Jensen said on the floor. He noted the seal’s historical origins and said many students did not know the state motto.
The bill’s opponents framed the proposal as an infringement on local control of schools. Rep. De Groot said the measure represented another state-level mandate telling local school boards what to do and urged colleagues to "resist this motion." Rep. Heerman similarly argued that elected school board members are best positioned to make such decisions and called the bill "not needed legislation."
Rep. Sharma, who spoke in opposition to a different style of mandating, suggested that many school boards already display the seal and that local boards could address the issue without a statewide requirement. Rep. Jordan spoke in support, calling the bill "plain and simple" and urging colleagues to vote in favor.
After debate the House proceeded to a recorded vote. The clerk reported "ayes 30, nays 38, excused 1," and the speaker announced that House Bill 11‑05 had failed to receive the affirmative vote of the majority of members-elect.
The bill had been amended in committee before coming to the floor; the sponsor referenced that committee amendment during remarks. No further action on the bill was recorded in the legislative transcript provided.
Details recorded on the floor — including sponsor remarks, members’ objections on grounds of local control, and the final roll-call tally — provide the complete account of the floor disposition as transcribed.
