Senate Education & 10:00 AM/CT Senate Ag and Natural Resources | 2026-02-12 [Source] Translate

The meeting began with a welcome and reminders for attendees to silence their phones and sign in if they planned to testify. A quorum was confirmed, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. The chair acknowledged the secretary for their documentation efforts. The first bill discussed was Senate Bill 200, presented by Senator Jim Melhoff, which aims to amend the state aid formula for general and special education by removing the index factor that ties funding increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 3%. Melhoff argued that the current statute is inconsistently followed and should reflect actual practices. Proponents, including Melhoff, emphasized the need for clarity, while opponents, including representatives from the South Dakota Education Association, stressed the importance of maintaining the index factor to prioritize education funding. A motion to defer the bill to the 41st day failed with a vote of three in favor and two against. Next, Senate Bill 138 was introduced by Senator Amber Holst, which seeks to revise the timeline for completing recounts in school board elections to ensure they are finalized before a candidate is sworn in. The bill aims to prevent legal complications arising from premature swearing-in. The committee discussed the appointment of a third person for recounts, addressing concerns about bias and delays. Brian Johnson, the bill's sponsor, shared his personal experience with election irregularities and emphasized the need for a neutral individual to oversee recounts. The committee voted in favor of the bill, placing it on the consent calendar. The meeting then moved to Senate Bill 189, which proposes an automatic refund process for assessments on crops, livestock, and milk. Senator Howard presented the bill, highlighting improvements such as a uniform 60-day timeline for refund requests and an online application process. Supporters argued for modernization, while opponents raised concerns about the necessity of the bill and the security of electronic data. The committee ultimately voted against the bill, with a motion to defer it to the 41st legislative day passing. Senate Bill 231, presented by Senator Helene Duhamel, aims to create a Water Infrastructure Development Fund to proactively invest in water infrastructure. Proponents highlighted its potential to address long-term needs without burdening taxpayers. The bill was referred to joint appropriations with a do-pass recommendation after a brief discussion. The committee then reconsidered Senate Bill 148, which had been previously deferred. Senators expressed differing opinions on whether the issues should be handled by the Game Fish and Parks Commission or through legislation. An amendment was proposed, and a motion to defer the bill to the 41st legislative day was unanimously supported. The meeting concluded with no further announcements, and a motion to adjourn was made and passed.