South Dakota
Bill to bring every school district opt-out to an election fails in SD
Thirty-nine legislators voted against a bill Feb. 4 in the South Dakota House of Representatives that would’ve brought every single school district opt-out to a public vote.
After Senate Bill 85 failed to pass, with 29 lawmakers voting for it and two excused, bill sponsor Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, said he intended the bill to be reconsidered in the coming days, meaning the bill could’ve been heard again Feb. 5.
But by the time the House reconvened that day with SB 85 on the docket, Hughes didn’t choose to move to have the bill reconsidered.
He told the Argus Leader, in emails shortly after the bill was mentioned on the House floor, that it wouldn’t be reconsidered, and it’s most likely the case that the bill will remain dead. But that other bills affecting opt-outs are pending, and amendments could come forward.
Opt-outs allow school districts to raise additional operating funds beyond what they get in their existing tax levy, and in state aid, by “opting out” of those limitations to collect more taxes from property owners in the district.
“Only time will tell how this issue works itself out and whether a mandatory referral requirement will reappear in some other bill,” Hughes told the Argus Leader.
Bill sponsor skeptical of trust in school administrators
Hughes would’ve had an uphill battle to change minds and flip votes, as many of the legislators who spoke in opposition to the bill staunchly defended education, local control and the financial decisions made by superintendents, school boards and school districts.
Those legislators cited the fact that only 14 districts passed opt-outs over the last year, with five of those being referred to an election, and all five passing.
SB 85 is one of 19 recommendations brought by the comprehensive property tax task force that met over the summer. Sen. Sue Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, brought both the bill and the recommendation, both opposed by the Sioux Falls School District (SFSD). Peterson said it was not a “silver bullet,” but part of the solution to solve the property tax problem in the state.
Peterson has also brought SB 223, which would require petitioners to gather only 50 signatures in 40 days to refer an opt-out to an election. The bill has been referred to the Senate State Affairs committee.
Hughes noted Feb. 4 that last year’s resolution to convene the task force was approved by 64 Representatives.
“One thing we have all seen from the floor vote on SB 85, the House in 2025-2026 thus far is talking out of both sides of its mouth on property tax reform and relief, and the voters should take that into consideration in June and November, if this session continues its present course on property taxes, and that we should just ‘trust the school administrations’ in South Dakota,” Hughes said in a statement Feb. 5.
Sioux Falls was a focal point of the bill
In House debate Feb. 4 and in the bill’s prior hearings, it was clear the most recent opt-out passed by the SFSD Board of Education, and the inability of petition circulators to gather enough signatures to bring the proposal to a vote, was a flashpoint that led to the bill’s creation.
That opt-out for $2.1 million over 10 years — or $21 million — needed 5,490 signatures to be referred to voters, but only 2,302 signatures were turned in by the deadline, in 20 days.
One of the most outspoken petitioners, Misty Furness, noted the cost for the district to hold an opt-out election — $63,000 — is far less than $21 million, and said SB 85 is about giving taxpayers a voice.
Peterson said Jan. 22 in the bill’s first hearing in the Senate Education committee that it shouldn’t be the responsibility of voters to gather petition signatures to prevent districts from spending over the limits that have been set for them.
During the Sioux Falls school board’s work session Feb. 4, shortly before the House started debating SB 85, school board president Nan Kelly said the bill wouldn’t solve the property tax issue “in any real meaningful way,” and said opt-outs have historically been used to fill the gap between what’s available in state and local funding, and what’s needed.
District business manager Todd Vik noted the Legislature increased state aid to education at only 1.25% last year and is proposing no increase this year, and said SB 85 will make it “much more difficult to opt out.”
Kelly said the bill sets a “very dangerous precedent” and could lead to similar legislation being proposed for cities and counties.
That’s something SFSD lobbyist Sam Nelson brought up in his testimony against the bill in the House Education committee Feb. 2, arguing that if proponents believed SB 85 was good for schools, it should be good for all local units of government, including the general bill and special appropriations passed by legislators.
Part of the reason opt-outs are in place is that “for years, we have not adequately funded public education, which is your constitutional obligation to do,” Nelson told the House Education committee on Feb. 2.
He noted that people who disagree with opt-outs or other decisions made by school board members have two ways to deal with it: showing up at school board meetings and making public comments, or “one of the greatest referendum tools,” the ballot box.
Rep. Brian Mulder, R-Sioux Falls, said he’d heard from SFSD that only one person made public comments on the budget cycle, and only two people emailed Superintendent Jamie Nold about the budget, noting that people already have the opportunity to influence school board and district decisions.
Districts ‘glibly ignore spending limits,’ proponents argue
In prior committee hearings, SB 85 was endorsed by lobbyists for the Freedom Foundation and Americans for Prosperity.
Legislators who spoke in favor of SB 85 Feb. 4 largely argued that taxpaying voters need to have a say in opt-outs that school boards want to pass, and that part of “local control” is for local school board voters to be part of decisions in their local school districts.
Hughes had argued that a number of school districts across the state “glibly ignore spending limits.”
In his rebuttal, he said his sons shouldn’t have to go to school board meetings and “plow through budgets” that make “all of us gloss over.”
He also said that in December, Nold gave a “wonderful defense for everything he’s doing to continue, according to the status quo,” and said that if legislators don’t pass SB 85, “we ought to just give everybody a trophy and go home.”
Rep. Terri Jorgenson, R-Rapid City, argued SB 85 is not about schools or education funding, but about taxpayers’ consent. She said there are 79 active opt-outs across the state levying $43 million in excess property taxes.
SB 85 takes tools out of education’s toolbox, opponents argued
In prior committee hearings, SB 85 was opposed by lobbyists for the Sioux Falls School District, Rapid City Area Schools, Associated School Boards of South Dakota, School Administrators of South Dakota, South Dakota Education Association, South Dakota United School Association, the Large School Group and the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce.
Since the petition group in Sioux Falls didn’t gather enough signatures, ASBSD lobbyist Heath Larson said it’s possible local constituents were supportive of the district and trusted what school board members were doing.
Large School Group lobbyist Dianna Miller argued that putting a mandate like SB 85 on schools isn’t “limited government,” and said that the property tax problem shouldn’t be “solved on the backs of school districts” alone, something Rep. Mike Stevens repeated on the House floor.
Reps. Erik Muckey, Jim Halverson, Tim Walburg, William Shorma, Roger DeGroot, Keri Weems, Stevens and Mulder all spoke against the bill on the House floor.
DeGroot said school districts pass opt-outs because “we’re not doing our job here,” referring to legislators’ power to increase education funding in Pierre. He added the lack of a proposed increase in state aid to education this year “makes absolutely no sense to me at all.”
Stevens said all legislators do recently is “take tools out” of education’s toolbox, and that if SB 85 passed, “there’d be no more tools in that toolbox.” He noted districts must publish public notices and hold public hearings when school boards plan to vote on or pass opt-outs.
Walburg said he trusts his superintendent and school board members, and that the state shouldn’t dictate what they can do. He noted that 57% of his property tax bill went to schools, which he said was about $265 twice a year.
Halverson said one of the superintendents in his legislative district had asked him to vote no and respect local control. Weems also said constituents in her district value what their property tax does for education, and that she voted against the bill and in favor of local control.
South Dakota
FCS Football Recruiting Roundup: South Dakota, Montana State Target 2027 Defensive Standouts
Welcome to another edition of the FCS Football Central Recruiting Roundup.
As spring practice winds down, recruits are still continuing to get on campus to visit schools and meet with their coaching staff. I caught up with some of the latest prospects who received an offer from an FCS program after their visit.
Amarie King | 2027 | DB | 5’7″ 140 lbs | Case High School | Racine, WI
King received his latest offer from South Dakota on April 17 after speaking with defensive coordinator Billy Kirch.
“Coach Kirch told me bout the offer, and that conversation went well. He told me a lot about the school, and asked me what my family and parents do. He said that my film was amazing and that he wanted to offer me,” King said.
“My recruitment is going well, although it is a little stressful here and there, but I am really just being patient and trusting the process, and keep working.”
He has visits to South Dakota and Drake coming up. Last season, he finished with 44 tackles, eight pass breakups, and six interceptions for the Eagles.
After a great conversation with coach kirch I’m blessed to I’ve received my first division 1 offer from @SDCoyotesFB @AntonGraham_ @MJ_NFLDraft @CoachBKirch @joshmanchigiah pic.twitter.com/jaxIYac67A
— Amarie King (@Amarieking27) April 17, 2026
Jayden Harris | 2027 | ATH | 6’2″ 170 lbs | Manteca High School | Manteca, CA
Harris picked up his latest offer from Montana State on Friday when he was in Bozeman for the Bobcats’ Junior Day, and meeting with cornerbacks coach Jordan Lee, defensive coordinator Bobby Daly, and head coach Brent Vigen.
“First, it was Coach Lee, then I had meetings with Coach Daly and Coach Vigen, who broke the news while we were talking. They want me to come in and play early. They like my versatility as a defensive back, and that’s why they offered me,” Harris said.
“The visit was cool! The snow was coming down, and the coaches still showed love. Recruiting is going well right now. Most schools that are in touch with me see something in me for sure, especially since I’m a zero-star athlete, so that’s love. I feel like I’m the best DB in California, and my measurements and production speak for themselves.”
He also has offers from Idaho, Washington State, and Sacramento State. He has upcoming visits to Arizona State and New Mexico.
Last season, he finished with 63 tackles, 11 pass breakups, nine interceptions, six tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pick-sixes for the Buffaloes.
Blessed to receive an offer from Montana State University 🐾 @ballcoachLee @CoachBobbyDaly @CoachSauve @CoachSmith59 @bvigen @BrandonHuffman @Rivals_Recruits @GregBiggins pic.twitter.com/ofYdjJKcmK
— Jay Harris (@JaydenOHarris) April 18, 2026
Maurice “MJ” Harrell | 2026 | DB | 6’1″ 170 lbs | Hutchinson CC | Hutchinson, KS
Harrell picked up his first Division I offer from Houston Christian on April 17 after he spoke with cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Coleman.
“Coach Coleman called and told me he liked what we saw from the videos I sent him, and that he wanted me to be a part of his program,” Harrell said.
Last season, he finished with 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and a fumble recovery for the Blue Dragons. Mercyhurst, Division II UTPB, and Missouri Southern are some other schools he has been in contact with.
Blessed To Receive my first d1 offer from Houstan Christian University pic.twitter.com/OBD9ITQZHS
— MauriceHarrell (@M_Harrell19) April 18, 2026
Jadhari Young | 2026 | WR | 6’1″ 200 lbs | De Anza College | Cupertino, CA
Young received his latest offer from Eastern Illinois on April 15 after speaking with wide receivers coach Tino Smith.
“Coach Smith called me, and we had a long and great conversation. He told me he believes in me and that he thinks I can be great under his coaching,” Young said. “My recruitment has been going great since I graduated two weeks ago. A lot of coaches have expressed a lot of interest in me.”
Young also has offers from Sacramento State, Prairie View A&M, and Chicago State. Last season, he hauled in receptions for 559 yards and seven touchdowns for the Mountain Lions. He was named a Golden Coast Conference First Team selection.
He will be taking his official visit to Eastern Illinois on April 24. Gardner-Webb, West Florida, Monmouth, Stony Brook, and UMass are some other schools he is hearing from.
Blessed to receive my 5th D1 offer from Eastern Illinois University — Dhari Young “DEBO” (@dharigogetit) April 15, 2026
Thank you Coach @coachtinosmith for believing in me💯 pic.twitter.com/yMZjnsfRvK
AJ Moore | 2027 | RB | 5’9″ 200 lbs | College of Dupage | Glen Ellyn, IL
Moore received his first Division I offer from Lindenwood on April 17 after speaking with running backs coach Lane Lawson.
“Coach Lawson called and offered me. He just told me he’d be really excited to have me over and thinks I could be a part of something special with the program they got going over there,” Moore said.
Last season, he finished with 81 carries for 518 yards and five touchdowns, while adding nine receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns for the Chaparrals, who won their fifth consecutive NJCAA Division III national championship. Moore is working on scheduling his official visit to Lindenwood.
#AGTG After a great conversation with @CoachLawsonLU I am blessed to have my first division 1 offer from Lindenwood University @LindenwoodFB @Dupage_Football @JUCOFFrenzy @AllenTrieu @JordanWesty1 pic.twitter.com/DGLjZC4gIA
— AJ Moore (@ajmoore6_) April 17, 2026
Leshem Nyante | 2027 | OT | 6’5″ 265 lbs | Anna High School | Anna, TX
Nyante picked up his latest offer from Texas Rio Grande Valley on April 17 after he spoke with offensive line coach Jeff Bowen.
“Coach Bowen reached out this morning to officially extend the offer. It was a great talk, and he mentioned they really liked my film and how I would fit their system. So we are focused on building that relationship now,” Nyante said.
“I’m really grateful for how my recruiting process is unfolding so far. Things are definitely moving fast with spring ball right around the corner, and it’s been great seeing the increase in interest every week.”
He also has offers from Arkansas State, Division II Midwestern State, and East Central University. Old Dominion, Texas State, UTEP, and New Mexico are some other schools he is hearing from. Nyante will be taking an official visit to Arkansas State in June.
#AGTG After a great conversation with @CoachJeffBowen , I am blessed to receive a D1 offer from @UTRGVFootball !!@8_parr @Coach_Rigg @tylerdedwards33 @Sevier5 @jessedstew @AnnaCoyotesFB @CoachTBush @Perroni247 @SWiltfong_ @CKennedy247 pic.twitter.com/6o9H13baAb
— Leshem (Shem) Nyantee (@leshemnyantee10) April 17, 2026
Matthew Lashley | 2027 | DB | 6’1″ 198 lbs | Riverside City College | Riverside, CA
Lashley received his latest offer from East Texas A&M on April 15 after speaking with safeties coach Luke Jaicks.
“Coach Jaicks called and offered me. He’s a great coach, and I would love to play for him,” Lashley said. “My recruitment is going well; it’s starting to heat up after spring ball.”
He also has an offer from Southern Utah. Last season, he finished with 14 tackles and two interceptions for the Tigers.
Blessed to receive another D1 offer to @Lions_FB! @JacksonSimon25 @nilsonsports pic.twitter.com/X4iLU8VRID
— Matthew Lashley (@MatthewLashley_) April 15, 2026
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(SOUTH DAKOTA SEARCHLIGHT) – Democrats are running for 46 of South Dakota’s 105 legislative seats — leaving 56% of seats without a Democratic candidate.
That doesn’t bode well for the party ahead of November, said Michael Card, professor emeritus of political science at the University of South Dakota.
“It doesn’t put them in a position to actually put forward their ideological policy preferences and have much of a success at getting those enacted,” Card said.
In the state Senate alone, Democrats have failed to field a candidate for 22 seats, which is nearly two-thirds of the chamber. In the House, Democrats have failed to field a candidate for 38 seats, which is 54% of the chamber.
There is only one Democratic legislative primary in the state: a state Senate race in District 26, which includes the Rosebud Reservation.
There are no statewide Democratic primaries, after announced candidates for governor and U.S. House dropped out or failed to gather enough petition signatures to make the ballot, leaving one Democrat in each of those races.
Statewide candidates will have less name recognition than Republican candidates ahead of the general election, since they didn’t have primaries, Card said. In the Legislature, Card said Democrats “are guaranteeing they won’t get a majority.”
In contrast, Republicans have primary races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Five legislative districts do not have Republican primaries, but do have Republican candidates. There is a Republican candidate running for every legislative seat, except for one House seat in District 27, which includes the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Card said there are several factors leading to poor candidate turnout among Democrats, including a self-fulfilling cycle of failure.
“A lack of winning makes fewer people willing to take a chance on running for office,” Card said. “Why run if I think I’m going to lose?”
Democrats haven’t held a statewide office since 2015, and they haven’t held a majority of either legislative chamber since 1994.
Joe Zweifel, deputy executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, said the organization worked “really, really hard” to convince Democrats to run for office.
“But you can’t force people to run for office,” said Zweifel, of Sioux Falls, who’s running for a legislative seat himself in District 12.
He’s heard the open seats called a “failure.” But he disagrees, choosing to focus on the Democrats who did step forward.
“We’re running quality, good candidates in those races,” Zweifel said.
The South Dakota Democratic Party hopes to build on legislative successes, such as a new law from Rep. Kadyn Wittman, D-Sioux Falls, that commits state funding to cover the family portion of reduced-price school meals.
“That specifically is a return on investment for our donors, and it shows that Democrats are doing good things for the people of South Dakota,” Zweifel said.
Wittman’s success helped inspire Democratic District 13 House of Representatives candidate Ali Rae Horsted, of Sioux Falls, to take a second run at the Legislature. Horsted ran unsuccessfully for the Senate against Sen. Sue Peterson in 2024, garnering 42% of the vote.
Horsted plans to build on that success and the name recognition she already has in the district. She hopes she’ll have “better odds” in this election, since there are two House seats for every district.
Horsted said it would better serve South Dakota if the state had a more balanced Legislature. While the latest Legislature was 92% Republican, 52% of voters in South Dakota are Republican. South Dakota has the lowest percentage of Democrats, 7.6%, in the Legislature nationwide.
“I think it’s important that people have options on the ballot,” Horsted said, “and people are able to vote for candidates that represent their values and their vision for the future of South Dakota.”
Makenzie Huber is a lifelong South Dakotan who regularly reports on the intersection of politics and policy with health, education, social services and Indigenous affairs. Her work with South Dakota Searchlight earned her the title of South Dakota’s Outstanding Young Journalist in 2024, and she was a 2024 finalist for the national Livingston Awards.
South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
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