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South Dakota House fails to pass bill requiring cash for school events. But it could come back

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South Dakota House fails to pass bill requiring cash for school events. But it could come back


House Bill 1017, which would require school districts to accept cash payments for admission to school events, failed Thursday despite receiving 34 supporting votes and 32 dissenting votes on the House floor.

Two representatives — Republicans Jessica Bahmuller from Alexandria and Spencer Gosch from Glenham — were excused from the vote. There’s also two fewer legislators in the House after Tony Venhuizen became lieutenant governor and Herman Otten from District 6 declined to serve the term for which he was elected.

So, 34 wasn’t a high enough threshold to pass the bill on Thursday, even though it was the majority at the time.

Speaker of the House Jon Hansen said shortly after the vote that “the intent to reconsider is hereby noted,” so lawmakers may reconsider the bill per joint rule 5-11 on the next legislative day, Feb. 3.

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That’s after Rep. John Sjaarda, R-Valley Springs, brought an amendment to limit HB 1017 to apply to events that aren’t sold out, remove the Board of Regents and Board of Technical Education from the legislation, and put a $200 maximum in the bill. That amendment passed in the House.

Sjaarda said he brought HB 1017 after seven large schools in his area stopped accepting cash, which he said impacts accessibility and fairness at local schools.

He did not specify which local schools opted for that policy but in the House Education committee hearing for the bill Monday, testifiers discussed it was related to Brandon Valley, Harrisburg, Sioux Falls and Tea Area school districts’ partnerships with Iowa-based company Bound that provides mostly digital and cashless ticketing.

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But those schools have testified that they work ahead of events and with athletic directors to accept cash for those who wish to use it to pay for events. Brandon Valley Superintendent Jarod Larson said that his schools still take cash for events.

Sioux Falls School Board of Education president Carly Reiter said Monday that the concerns brought by a very small number of people who spoke in favor of HB 1017, and against the district’s policy in August, weren’t “great enough” considering the benefits the district’s change to cashless ticketing gained for hundreds of other people.

She said athletic directors at schools have gone “above and beyond” to accommodate requests for paper tickets or to pay for tickets with cash.

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What did local legislators say?

Rep. Erik Muckey, D-Sioux Falls, said the intent of the bill is good but agreed that the House shouldn’t override local control and didn’t want to enforce something statewide that is a local issue.

Rep. Brian Mulder, R-Sioux Falls, said the bill was a “knee-jerk” reaction to something new. He suggested the Legislature let local schools fix their policy before implementing a statewide law.

Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, said a mandatory cashless policy takes more money from families and schools and gives more money to banks.

Rep. Keri Weems, R-Sioux Falls, said the Legislature is part-time because it gives a lot of control to local entities and urged parents with problems getting their children into local activities and events to contact their local school boards to change their policy.

Legislators across state differed on local control

Rep. Terri Jorgenson, R-Rapid City, said she supported the bill because she felt it was a privacy issue and that use of credit cards and digital means is tracked as opposed to cash.

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Rep. Roger DeGroot, R-Brookings, said he agrees people should accept cash, but said the House shouldn’t tell districts what to do.

Rep. Josephine Garcia, R-Watertown, said board members failed to help the people who said they couldn’t use cash.

Rep. Tony Randolph, R-Rapid City, said cash has been part of the economy “forever,” that he didn’t understand the objections to the bill, and said he didn’t see it as a local control issue.



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South Dakota

South Dakota State clinches Summit League title

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South Dakota State clinches Summit League title


KANSAS CITY — South Dakota State clinched yet another women’s Summit League basketball title on Saturday, as the Jackrabbits’ 80-60 win over Kansas City upped their conference record to 14-0 on the season (24-3 overall) and out of reach of the rest of the league’s members.

It was the 61st consecutive win in Summit League regular season play for SDSU, and clinched them the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

It’s the Jacks’ fifth consecutive regular season league title and 11th since 2008.

The win over the Kangaroos followed a somewhat familiar pattern, as SDSU struggled to gain separation early but pulled away late for a comfortable victory.

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UMKC outscored the Jacks 21-16 in the second quarter to go into the half down just three to SDSU at 39-36, but the Jacks stretched the lead to nine by the end of the third and then pulled away in the fourth.

Brooklyn Meyer had a monster game for SDSU, scoring a career-high 34 points in her first game after getting held to four in last weekend’s win over USD. The junior post was 13-of-16 from the floor and 8-of-14 at the line to do her offensive damage.

Haleigh Timmer had 16 points, hitting four of her team’s six 3-pointers, while Paige Meyer had 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds. The Jacks had assists on 22 of their 30 made field goals and committed just six turnovers. Paige Meyer moved into fifth place all-time in school history in assists, including No. 1 all-time in the Division I era.

Alanya Contreras had 24 points for UMKC (11-18, 7-7), while Emani Bennett added 14.

The Jacks wrap up the regular season at home, hosting Denver on Thursday and St. Thomas on Saturday.

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Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.





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Obituary for Mary Langner at Miller Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory

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Obituary for Mary  Langner at Miller Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory


Mary Kathleen Hurney Langner, loving mother, sister, aunt, grandma, and great-grandmother, died peacefully in her sleep at her Sioux Falls residence on the 19th of February 2025. She was 76 years old. Celebration of her life visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 500 700 pm



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South Dakota

‘Cruelty was the point’: SD federal workers, programs feel the pain of Trump firings and freezes

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‘Cruelty was the point’: SD federal workers, programs feel the pain of Trump firings and freezes


Darwin Hertzel reported to his job with the Natural Resources Conservation Service on Feb. 14 and opened an email. “Some very generic, no-name email. It was a template,” he said. “It said you’re a probationary employee, pack up your stuff and leave.” The service is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hertzel, who worked […]



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