This bill amends South Dakota law regarding the process for school districts to impose an excess tax levy for both general fund and capital outlay fund purposes. It requires that the governing body of a school district must specify the duration of the excess tax levy in their resolution and mandates that the decision to impose or increase the levy must be published within ten days. The publication must occur at least twice in a designated legal newspaper, and the announcement must meet specific size and formatting requirements, including a clear statement regarding the property tax increase. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the opt-out decision must be referred to a vote of the people, which must be conducted in the same manner as other special elections.

The bill also clarifies that the opt-out procedures for capital outlay fund purposes are the same as those for the general fund. It emphasizes that any additional revenue generated from the excess tax levy for capital outlay must be used solely for that purpose and not included in the total tax revenues for the general fund calculation. The amendments include several changes to the language, such as replacing "may" with "must" in key provisions, ensuring stricter compliance with the requirements for public notification and voter approval.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/13/2026: 10-12-43, 10-12-43.1