South Dakota House debates sovereignty, campus rules and bonding; several measures pass, others fail

The South Dakota House of Representatives met in floor session on Feb. 18, 2025, and took final action on a series of bills that touched on state sovereignty and international health guidance, campus residency and meal-plan requirements for regents institutions, water and cultural funding, and changes to administrative fees.

Among the highest-profile debates was House Bill 11-52, a measure that would have barred state and local officials from enforcing or implementing directives from “intergovernmental organizations” and that the sponsor described as a preventive step in case of future international public-health declarations. After extended debate — including questions about whether the bill would unintentionally interfere with research partnerships and federally funded projects — the measure failed on final passage, 32 ayes to 37 nays with one excused.

The House also considered House Bill 11-93, a proposal to prohibit the Board of Regents and regents institutions from requiring students to live in on-campus housing or to purchase meal plans. Supporters framed the bill as expanding students’ freedom and reducing student indebtedness; opponents warned it could threaten billions in bonded projects and the financial structure of university housing. The measure failed on final passage, 28 ayes to 42 nays.

Lawmakers approved several other measures. House Bill 10-42, an appropriation to complete historic exhibits at the Cultural Heritage Center, passed by the required two-thirds margin (68 ayes, 2 nays) after the House adopted an amendment to make the appropriation effective in the current fiscal year and to direct a $1.5 million transfer of tourism promotion revenue to the Department of Education to finish exhibit work.

Budget- and administratio…