PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — The South Dakota House of Representatives today (Tuesday) rejected a bill requiring state motto displays in public schools while delaying action on two other measures through a procedural rule.
House Bill 1105, requiring schools to display “Under God the People Rule” or the state seal in classrooms, failed 30-38.
“I had asked 30 high school students in the gallery if they knew what our state motto was. None of them knew it,” said Rep. Phil Jensen, R-Rapid City, the bill’s sponsor.
Rep. Roger DeGroot, R-Brookings, opposed the measure.
“Maybe we should just rename this body the state school board instead of the state legislature of South Dakota,” DeGroot said.
House members invoked Joint Rule 517 on proposed amendments to House Bills 1166 and 1208. The rule prevents debate on amendments.
HB 1208 addresses voter registration requirements for mail forwarding services.
“We have close to 50,000 individuals who claim to be residents of this great state of South Dakota. 50,000 people registered as P.O. Box individuals,” said Rep. Tony Kayser, R-Sioux Falls.
Rep. Tony Randolph, R-Rapid City, recommended reducing certain right-to-work violations from felonies to misdemeanors in HB 1166.
“The committee wrestled with it pretty extensively. They like the idea as we all do in strengthening our right to work laws, but they noticed a few flaws in it,” Randolph said.
Both bills remain pending.
