South DakotaSchool tax petitions would require turnout-based signatures and a minimum
School district voters would have 40 days after a tax decision’s first publication to file a petition seeking a public vote.
What it does
Voters seeking a vote on extra school property taxes would need signatures equal to 5% of the last regular school election’s turnout or 50 voters, whichever is greater.
School boards would disclose how long the extra tax would last and its maximum total cost in their formal decision and on the ballot. Newspaper notices would generally include those details.
Argument forShowing the tax’s full cost and duration could help taxpayers judge the school board’s plan and make a more informed voting decision.
Argument againstThe 50-signature minimum could make it hard to request a vote in districts where few people voted in the last school election.
More detail
Voters could petition for a public vote on extra school property taxes. This applies to extra property taxes for a school district’s general operating fund. The petition would need at least 5% of the number of voters who voted in the most recent regular school district election or 50 voters, whichever is greater. Organizers would have to file the petition with the school board within 40 days of the decision’s first publication. The public vote must occur on or before October 1 of the year before the taxes are payable.
School boards would state the extra tax’s duration and maximum total amount in their formal decision and on the ballot. These disclosures cover how many years the extra school property tax would last and the maximum total taxes payable over that period. The newspaper notice would also include these details, unless the extra tax is under $15,000 or the board both mails its decision to every property taxpayer within 20 days and prints it in each official local newspaper.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 2House of Representatives Reconsidered , Failed, YEAS 31, NAYS 34 H.J. 468Latest
- Vote recorded Reconsidered. Result: fail.Lower
- Feb 26Intent to reconsider , Passed, H.J. 459
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: fail.Lower
- Feb 26House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Failed, YEAS 32, NAYS 34 H.J. 459
- Feb 25Education Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 8, NAYS 7Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25Scheduled for hearing
- Feb 18First read in House and referred to House Education H.J. 356Minor
- Feb 17Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 20, NAYS 14 S.J. 281
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Senate Deferred to another day , Passed, S.J. 245
- Feb 9State Affairs Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 3 S.J. 21
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 9State Affairs Motion to amend , Passed, S.J. 21 Amendment 223BMajor
- Feb 9Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
- Feb 4First read in Senate and referred to Senate State Affairs S.J. 179Introduced
- Mar 2House of Representatives Reconsidered , Failed, YEAS 31, NAYS 34 H.J. 468Latest
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