PIERRE — South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden shot down a bill which would have expanded the state’s child care assistance program for certain child care employees.

Rhoden vetoed an amended House Bill 1132, a proposed child care law that would have raised the federal poverty line for child care eligibility from 209% to 300% explicitly for people who work at least 30 hours per week at a licensed school daycare program, center or family home providing child care.

The South Dakota governor wrote in a Wednesday statement provided by his office that his reasoning for torpedoing the legislation was because it would “shift South Dakota’s child care assistance program away from its core mission.”

“Currently, the program is designed as a safety net to help low-income families cover child care costs while they work toward self-sufficiency,” Rhoden stated. “This bill would give child care workers preferential treatment, by allowing them to receive this aid at a higher income level.”

This is the first bill Rhoden has vetoed as governor of South Dakota.

More: South Dakota House passes bill establishing child care assistance for daycare workers

In a letter to Speaker Jon Hansen and House members, Rhoden critiqued the bill further, saying it would “transform” the state’s child care program into a “long-term workforce subsidy.” He also explained he killed the bill over its fiscal aspects, since it lacked an appropriation to cover the cost of the program’s expansion.

“If just 5% of South Dakota’s current child care workforce applies, the program will require an additional $3.8 million in state general funds. If half of the current workforce applies, the program grows by $38 million,” Rhoden wrote. “The lack of new funding creates a zero-sum game, and this expansion would force reductions in benefits or waiting lists for the low-income families the program was originally designed to support.”

Others who voiced their opposition during this year’s legislative session included Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, who stated during last month’s House hearing that HB 1132B would “create winners and losers” by giving special treatment to child care workers and not other areas such as health care, education and service industries, all of which are also experiencing workforce shortages.

The South Dakota Department of Social Services also opposed the bill, with Deputy Secretary and Chief of Operations Brenda Tidball-Zeltinger stating that the current 209% South Dakota federal poverty level for child care assistance equals about $67,000 per year for a family of four and $44,000 for a family of two. If the federal poverty line is raised to 300%, a family of four can earn up to $93,000 per year and $61,000 per year for a family of two.

The South Dakota Legislature funds the state’s child care assistance program each year through DSS, Tidball-Zeltinger relayed. Part of the funding comes from a federal block grant, but that grant is capped. To receive federal funds, the state must also contribute matching funds from its own budget.

One of the bill’s prime sponsors, Democrat Rep. Erin Healy of Sioux Falls, criticized the governor’s decision in an interview with the Argus Leader Wednesday.

Healy, House Minority Leader, called Rhoden’s argument that the state would have to increase its budget “premature,” as the state does not have a waiting list for child care assistance.

“This veto sends a clear message … that we are willing to allow families to struggle, and that is unacceptable,” Healy said in a phone call. “It’s disappointing that these people who are taking care of children can’t afford child care themselves. That’s the true problem there.”

Healy has previously pointed to Kentucky, which passed a similar bill offering child care assistance to child care workers. This ultimately cost less than expected, she said, as many child care workers were already eligible but unaware of the assistance available.

Rhoden also lauded the state Department of Social Services’ ongoing work to address the child care shortage in the state by pointing to “industry standard” weekly payments for child care assistance, raised reimbursement rates for providers and the state’s ChildCare605 Campaign, among other things.

Healy contends the state hasn’t done enough to address the child care shortage.

More: ‘We’re in a crisis,’ childcare leaders warn as options remain unaffordable for many

“I’m looking at the solutions that they’ve addressed, and it’s great that they’re working on that, but it’s not enough to address the child care shortage in South Dakota, specifically that child care is not accessible and … businesses can not afford to keep their facilities open.”

Both Healy and Republican Sen. Tim Reed of Brookings are members of the South Dakota Child Care Task Force, which formed in 2023. A report was released in January, stating that South Dakota’s child care model is unsustainable, with providers closing due to financial strain. HB 1132 was just one of many moving parts in addressing child care in the state, by allowing “the workers behind the workers” or those who are employed at early child care centers to be eligible for child care assistance.

More: Task force releases first look at the state of child care in South Dakota

Child care costs range from $7,000 to $14,000 per year, making it unattainable for low-income families. Additionally, child care workers earn an average of $12.67 per hour — far below the $19.58 living wage. This shortage further limits available child care spots, exacerbating the crisis.

“So how is somebody who is making that wage supposed to afford child care? These people are taking care of our children, but they can’t even afford to have their children taken care of,” Healy said during the House session last month.

When that happens, Healy said, child care workers leave the industry.

The legislation will now require a two-thirds majority in both the state’s House and the Senate chambers to be overturned. HB 1132 was one of the first bills expanding the state’s child care assistance program to pass the House and Senate in a decade. But the bill received less than two-thirds of votes from members of both chambers, which means it is unlikely the legislature will vote to overturn the governor’s veto.

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., –  After a week on the road, Falcon baseball (4-12) returns to home turf, looking to face the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (1-10) on Wednesday at 2 p.m. MT at Erdle Field.
 
Schedule
Weds: vs. South Dakota State, 2:00 p.m. MT
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Live Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @AF_Baseball
 
Erdle Field
With the anticipation of great crowds during the 2025 Air Force baseball season, fans are encouraged to bring a folding chair to enjoy the game from the third base line, and other areas around Erdle Field, when the first base bleachers reach capacity.
 
Base Access
The U.S. Air Force Academy processes to access the installation continue to affect athletic events. While the installation remains open, if you do not have a DoD ID card you will need to obtain a pass to enter the base. Ticket holders wishing to attend can request a base pass by using this link for each game. Once you register, you will receive a message with a QR code on your phone to present at the gate when entering the Academy. Fans will present game tickets when entering each venue. All ticketed/credentialed attendees will need to enter through the North Gate only to get to the Cadet Field House.
 
Series History
-The first meeting of the two programs took place in 1959, ending with a win for Air Force, 11-9.
-The two teams have played 20 games, with the Falcons holding a winning 13-7 record.
-The last meeting was a three-game series in 2020, with Air Force winning the series, 2-1.
– In game three of the latest series, on March 8, 2020, the Birds defeated the Jacks, 6-5 at USAFA.
-Across the 20 matchups, AF has outscored South Dakota State, 163-145.
 
Pitching Probables (2025 Stats)
Weds: RHP Cranz Smelcer (19.64 ERA, 0-3) vs. RHP Dylan Richey (First Appearance, 0-0)
 
Projected Lineup (2025 OPS)
1. R/R, Chase Spencer, CF (.457 OPS)
2. R/R, Alex Adams, 3B (.658 OPS)
3. R/R, Walker Zapp, C (1.000 OPS)
4. L/L, Tripp Garrish, DH (.913 OPS)
5. R/R, Christian Taylor, LF (.582 OPS)
6. R/R, Zach Peters, RF (.874 OPS)
7. L/R, Ben Niednagel, SS (.578 OPS)
8. R/R, Cam Anstey, 1B (.639 OPS)
9. R/R, T.J. Oster, 2B (.471 OPS)
 
First Start for Smelcer
–Cranz Smelcer is looking to take his first start for the Falcons.
-So far this season, the right-handed pitcher has made six appearances out of the bullpen.
-Across 7.1 relief innings pitched, Smelcer has allowed 16 runs off 11 hits.
-The freshman has tallied eight strikeouts and issued seven walks.
-His collegiate debut came against No. 10 Florida, where he went 0.2 innings with one K and five runs allowed.
-He threw a career-high 2.1 innings at No. 14 Vanderbilt and gave up a pair of runs.
-In game one against Navy, Smelcer gave up no runs and struck out one batter in 0.2 innings.
-His career-high four Ks came in the second midweek game at TCU, he went three up, three down with a trio of strikeouts in the fifth.
-In high school, Smelcer was the Apex High School baseball MVP and named First Team All-Conference and All-Region during his senior year.

Reliable Reliever
–Patrick Davidson earned his first pair of career wins against Navy and Army.
-The first win came in game one against Navy.
-The sophomore entered in relief and threw the final 1.1 innings, defending the 3-2 lead for the Falcons.
-He notched one strikeout and gave up no hits.
-Against Army, the righty took the call from the bullpen in the top of the ninth.
-He threw the final 2.2 outs into the 11th and allowed no runs, no hits, and notched a career-high four Ks.
-His defense enabled the Falcon offense to end the game with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning.
-Davidson has appeared in five games in relief, and allowed just three runs off four hits.
-Over the last three times he has taken the bump (against Navy, Army, and TCU), the righty has not given up a run or a hit in six innings pitched.
-The reliever currently holds an ERA of 3.12 with seven strikeouts and four hits across 8.2 innings pitched, along with a batting average against for Air Force, at .154.
 
First Pitch
-The pair of Josh Shropshire and Marcus Downing made their collegiate debuts at California Baptist.
-Both freshmen threw one full inning.
-Downing closed for the Falcons in the game two, 13-5, loss for Air Force.
-He recorded two looking strikeouts and did not allow any runs or hits.
-Shropshire got the call from the bullpen in game one, a 10-3 Falcon loss.
-He marked a trio of Ks but saw one unearned run score off a single hit.
 
He’s a Catch
–Walker Zapp returned to the lineup after making 50 starts of 51 games played in 2024.
-The junior is batting a multitude of team-bests: AVG: .379, slugging .603, 1.000 OPS, 22 hits, six doubles, two triples, and 12 RBIs.
-Zapp is currently on a six-game hit streak, recording at least one hit in every game since Army on March 3.
-He leads the team in extra base hits, boasting nine with six doubles, two triples, and a home run.
-In game one at California Baptist, Zapp batted 3-for-5.
-The junior batted 2-for-4 in game one at TCU, with a pair of RBI singles.
-Zapp marked critical ABs in wins against Navy and Army.
-In game one against Navy, Zapp earned an RBI for sending the winning run across the plate in the top of the ninth, 3-2.
-Against Army in game one, the catcher led off the bottom of the 11th frame with a double down the left line to reach base, and ultimately scored the walk-off run for a 9-8 Falcon victory.
-He knocked one out of the park for his first home run of 2025 at No. 15 Vanderbilt.
-Behind the plate, Zapp has marked 116 put outs on 136 chances, with 16 assists for a fielding percentage of .971.
-He has caught six runners stealing, four of which were in the series at CBU.
-The catcher combined with the second baseman, T.J. Oster to throw out a pair of Lancers stealing in the bottom of the third in game three at California Baptist.
 
Senior Leader
 – Zach Peters is currently batting second-best for the Falcons at .304 and holds a team-third nine RBIs.
-Peters has already notched at least one of every extra-base hit, with three doubles, a triple, and a home run.
-He notched his second career homer in game two at CBU, to help the Falcons hang on to the 4-2 lead they had in the fourth inning.
-The outfielder markes an on-base percentage of .396, the second best for Air Force.
-On the base path, Peters is 2-for-2 in stolen bags.
– Across the Army series, the senior collected 7 hits, with four in game two for a new career high.
-In the same game, Peters tallied two doubles, a triple, and three RBIs, helping to propel AF to a 14-7 victory.
 
Double A
–Alex Adams has secured a start in all 16 of Air Force’s games, thus far.
-The freshman is batting .288 third-best of the Falcons with one double out of 17 hits.
-He accounts for five RBIs, seeing two against No. 10 Florida, one against Navy, and a pair at California Baptist.
-Defensively, Adams began his season with Air Force at first base but made the switch to protect third.
-Adams holds a fielding percentage of .964 with 34 put outs, 20 assists, and five double plays.
-Over the last four games, Adams holds a perfect fielding percentage.
-He marked a season-high nine put outs in the third game of the CBU series.
-On the base path, Adams accounts for a team-high five stolen bags this season.
 
ON DECK
The Falcons gear up to host Washington State for Mountain West play from Mar. 14 – 16. Game one is slated for a 2:00 p.m. MT first pitch.