South Dakota
How much will school choice bill cost South Dakota? Committee delays vote to find out
The House Education Committee is delaying a vote on a school choice finance bill for one week so it can get a definitive answer on how much the proposal would cost the state.
House Bill 1009, which would create South Dakota educational empowerment accounts, was brought by five members of the 15-person committee: Republican Reps. Heather Baxter, Phil Jensen, Dylan Jordan, Logan Manhart and Kathy Rice.
Jordan, who opened his testimony on the bill by noting he’s not a teacher, was the prime sponsor and couldn’t answer questions from committee members about what exactly his bill would cost the state, and what it could cost the South Dakota Department of Education in staffing and audits.
He noted the DOE hasn’t supported the bill.
What’s in HB 1009?
HB 1009 as introduced would make educational empowerment accounts with funds that could be spent on tuition fees; fees for sports programs and fine arts programs; textbooks, curricula or other instructional materials and supplies; educational therapies; registration fees for nationally standardized achievement tests, advanced placement exams or other tests or exams related to postsecondary admission; transportation services between a student’s home and the private school, institution of higher education or location or program the student is enrolled in; or, technological devices, instruments and equipment necessary for educational pursuits.
To open an account, parents of students who will attend private school must file a request with the DOE that acknowledges their student can’t switch back into public school or into alternative instruction that school year.
Each account would give parents the per student equivalent amount, which is currently $7,405.19, in the form of a debit card.
More than 15,000 students are currently enrolled in the state’s private schools. If all 15,185 private school students were given $7,405.19, that would total more than $112 million for the new program.
When Rice asked if Jordan would support an amendment reducing the funding amount, Jordan said he wouldn’t, because “we’d be saying individual children are worth less than others, and I thought we were all created equal.”
The DOE would be responsible for creating a handbook for participants, publishing forms for withdrawing an alternative instruction notification, conducting random audits of the accounts and taking the request forms for the account.
Meanwhile, a similar bill, House Bill 1020, would create education savings accounts and appropriate about $4 million to cover $3,000 in ESAs for students in the state’s private schools or alternative instruction. Money could only be spent on tuition and fees to qualifying schools, curriculum and associated instructional materials or supplies, “educationally related technological devices and associated hardware and services,” and fees for any standardized college entrance exam approved by the DOE.
Gov. Kristi Noem proposed that bill in her budget address and has support from DOE Secretary Joe Graves. It also differs from HB 1009 in that it sets up a tiered system of eligibility based on household income.
Proponents support school choice, question expense
Besides Jordan, other proponents of HB 1009 who spoke Wednesday included lobbyists from Young Americans for Liberty, South Dakota Parents Involved in Education, Family Voice Action and Americans for Prosperity and six parents from either Colton, Spearfish, Salem or Rapid City who spoke about the success they or their children have had in private school or homeschool.
Jordan began proponent testimony by thanking President Donald Trump for “calling for school choice nationally.” He said COVID-19 opened people’s eyes on the modern education system and showed “one-size-fits-all education policy” doesn’t work for everyone. Jordan added that “leftist, LGBTQIA2S+ communities and the ‘woke agenda’” have made its way into the public school system.
The proponents jointly spoke about the benefits of school choice and empowering parents to make that choice, how homeschooling can get expensive, and how the program could bring a “marketplace of ideas” to education in a new way.
However, lobbyists from Parents Involved in Education and Americans for Prosperity, along with a homeschooling father from Salem, cautioned about the expense of the bill and suggested reducing vouchers to the $3,000 Noem proposed. They questioned whether it would pass through the Capitol chambers and committees at such a large expense.
Opponents prefer financial support go to public education, not private
Opponents of HB 1009 who spoke Wednesday included lobbyists with Disability Rights South Dakota, Associated School Boards of South Dakota, School Administrators of South Dakota, South Dakota Education Association, the Sioux Falls and Rapid City School Districts, Large School Group, Bureau of Finance and Management, South Dakota United School Association and South Dakota Retailers Association.
They largely argued that the bill divests and diverts significant taxpayer dollars from public education into private schools that don’t follow the same accountability and equity rules that public schools follow. They said this year schools will have a much more lean budget, so it would be “irresponsible” to stand up a new program at such a time.
A lobbyist from Bureau of Finance and Management said Noem supports school choice, but believes the bill could cost South Dakota $157 million. and therefore asked the committee to oppose the bill.
Some of the education lobbyists also said the bill is “clunky” and questioned what unforeseen expenses families may use the debit cards to pay for with little accountability or oversight.
Ultimately, the vote to delay a vote on the bill for one week to Jan. 29 until a fiscal note is prepared by the Legislative Research Council passed with nine in favor, five dissenting and one member excused.
The South Dakota State baseball team is fighting for its season today against Arizona State in the Lincoln Regional. The game is set for 2 p.m.
The No. 4 Jackrabbits (24-32) lost 4-1 to No. 1 Nebraska in the opening game. No. 3 Arizona State lost a 706 heartbreaker to No. 2 Ole Miss in the opening round in 14 innings. The game took nearly 5.5 hours and ended around 1:20 a.m.
Here’s how to watch South Dakota State’s win-or-go-home game.
Watch South Dakota State baseball vs … on ESPN+
South Dakota State vs. Arizona State baseball stream, radio
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: KJJQ 910 AM
South Dakota State vs. Arizona State time today
- Date: Saturday, May 30
- Time: 2 p.m. CT
- Location: Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Nebraska
South Dakota State vs. Arizona State prediction
Paul Cifonelli, Argus Leader: This was always a tough draw for South Dakota State, as I thought this was the toughest regional in the country. At worst it’s the third toughest, with Chapel Hill and College Station in contention.
The Jackrabbits do have an advantage since Arizona State and Ole Miss went at it until after 1 a.m. Both teams stressed their pitching staffs, and every at bat required intense focus. The problem is South Dakota State doesn’t have the same top-end pitching these other teams do.
If Drew McDowell pitches, the Jacks might have a shot here. Otherwise they’ll have to win a slugfest, and I just don’t like those odds.
Prediction: Arizona State 8, South Dakota State 3
MISSION, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – In rural South Dakota, miles often separate expectant mothers from healthcare.
“A lot of women out here are left without any maternity care options,” said Rachel Kocak.
In Mission, moms mark their due dates and calculate miles to the nearest delivery location. Rachel Kocak, expecting her third child, said one option just closed.
“We used to have a birthing unit, I think up until a couple of months ago, and they lost their OB. So, Winner is no longer delivering babies,” Rachel said.
Some mothers remember when they could reach the hospital within a five-minute drive.
“IHS, for tribal members, they don’t deliver babies out here or provide prenatal care,” Rachel explained.
Families hope to reach the hospital before the baby arrives.
“So women either have to drive to Valentine, which is about 30 to 35 minutes from Mission, they can go to Wanblee, which is on the Pine Ridge Reservation, or they have to go to Pierre, Rapid City, or Sioux Falls,” Rachel said.
And if the roads are bad.
“I think there are a lot of babies who are unintentionally born at home. So it’s a tough place, I think, for mothers,” Rachel said.
The March of Dimes breaks down government data, showing a large portion of rural South Dakota as a maternity care desert, requiring travel of 38 or more minutes to reach an appointment or delivery room. The infant mortality rate is higher among native American babies born, compared to other races.
Health Department maps show counties in medium blue have 56 infant deaths per 100,000 births. Dark blue counties have three times as many. Grants aim to increase the number of healthcare workers, and funding supports a doula workforce program.
Kocak would like to see doulas and midwives available.
“Great opportunity for anyone who wants to become a home-birth midwife out here. The birth rate is still, I’m not sure what it is, but it’s high. There’s still a growing young population, and just not enough people to help deliver the babies,” Rachel said.
If care were closer, the outcomes could be brighter.
“You know, having the support network can make a huge change in the lives of these young, you know, these babies and young mothers who are building new families,” Rachel said.
The South Dakota Department of Health released a statement to Dakota News Now, which can be read in full below.
The South Dakota Maternal and Infant Health Task Force was created in 2025 to bring partners together to help improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and infants across the state. Their 5-year strategic plan was recently released, which has three priority areas: postpartum care to improve maternal health; safe sleep education and prevention strategies to protect infant health; and systems of care work that improves access, coordination, and quality of care statewide. One of the strategic plan activities that is supported by Rural Health Transformation is the creation of Regional Maternal and Infant Health Hubs, which will create a hub-and-spoke network connecting hospitals, clinics, tribal health services, and community organizations. These hubs will improve care coordination, strengthen referral pathways, and expand access to services for families in rural and tribal communities.
Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
While the race to secure the nomination for governor has dominated the headlines ahead of the June 2 primary, Republican voters will also choose a candidate for one of South Dakota’s two U.S. Senate seats.
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, who is seeking a third, six-year term, holds a comfortable lead over his GOP primary challenger, Justin McNeal, a Navy veteran and business owner from Rapid City, according to the latest poll from News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy.
Here is a recap of the two candidates along with their thoughts heading into the June 2 election. The winner of the Republican primary will meet Democrat Julian Beaudion and Independent Brian Bengs in the Nov. 3 general election.
Hometown: Fort PierreAge: 71Occupation: Insurance broker; businessman; former governor (2003-2011); U.S. senator since 2015In their own words:
Rounds provided the following statement to News Watch:
“Working in the U.S. Senate, I’ve stayed focused on results that matter for our kids and grandkids. That means keeping the government off your back and out of your business and wallet. That means keeping our communities safe and creating a business climate that encourages job growth to keep our kids in South Dakota. And that means safety through a commitment to our men and women in uniform.
This past summer, we worked with President Trump to pass the Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. Without Congressional action, the average South Dakota family would have seen a $2,500 tax hike this year. Our legislation not only prevented the largest tax increase in American history, but it also provided additional tax relief for hard-working South Dakota families. That includes no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security for nearly 9 out of 10 seniors.
We’ve accomplished some great things, but our work is not done. I am running for reelection to continue bringing results back home to South Dakota.”
Hometown: Rapid City (born in Illinois and raised in Texas)Age: 42Occupation: Business owner (Dakota BioChar); Navy veteran (2001-2007)In their own words:
“I’m feeling the people in South Dakota are ready for a change. The challenge we are running into is that not enough people know who we are, but as soon as they know who we are, it’s an easy decision for them,” McNeal told News Watch in a phone interview. “I don’t have millions and millions of dollars. I’ve been largely self-funding this race up to this point.”
McNeal, who is a licensed pilot, said he has flown his small plane to events throughout the state in an attempt to get his name out.
“I talk to people about the issues that matter and I tell them the biggest thing you can do to help me is tell 10 people about me and to go vote June 2. We need about 50,000 votes to win the primary,” he said.
McNeal is not critical of Rounds and conceded “he is very popular” but said Rounds has not done enough to tackle the country’s growing fiscal deficit.
“I don’t think Mike is doing a bad job. I’m just concerned with the federal debt and the people that got us into that mess are not going to be the ones to get us out of it,” McNeal said.
“This is going to cripple the country. It just seems like politicians are focused on what they can bring to their home district or home state. And the problem with that is every member of Congress is doing the same thing, so everyone is taking and taking without making sure we can pay for it.”
South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.
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