House floor roundup: several high‑profile measures fail to reach thresholds, mixed outcomes on bills
February 05, 2026 | 2026 Legislature SD, South Dakota
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Pierre, S.D. — A busy floor session in the South Dakota House on Feb. 4 produced mixed results: multiple high‑profile measures failed to secure the votes needed for final passage while other bills cleared the chamber.
House Bill 10‑95, a proposal from Representative Reimer to align petition submission deadlines to a single March date (described on the floor as an "integrity bill" to give election officials more time), required a two‑thirds vote because of an emergency clause. The House recorded "ayes 31, excused 1" and declared the bill lost for lack of the required two‑thirds.
Representative Schaeffauer's House Bill 11‑24, which would have created a new offense for trespass and political intimidation at places of worship and included a 50‑foot buffer in an amendment, prompted extended debate about existing criminal statutes. "This has nothing to do with the wedding. It has to do with political protest," the sponsor said, but the House did not reach the two‑thirds threshold and the bill was declared lost (recorded ayes 21, nays 48, excused 1).
A proposal to create a statewide task force on artificial intelligence, HB 11‑25, was amended on the floor (amendment moved the start date to July 1, 2026) but the amended bill failed to win a majority on final passage (recorded ayes 26, nays 43, excused 1).
Senate Bill 85, a measure backed by Representative Hughes that would require voter approval before school districts use excess levies (opt‑outs), drew sustained floor debate about local control, taxpayer accountability and the impact on school budgeting. "All this bill does is make sure that the burden is not on the taxpayer, but on the school boards to direct consent from the people if they want to circumvent spending limits," Hughes said. The bill failed to receive a majority (ayes 29, nays 39, excused 2).
Not all measures failed. Senate Bill 11, a technical alignment of statutes on reinstatement fees and abstract driver records carried by Representative Mulder, passed (ayes 46, nays 21, excused 3). Senate Bill 24, which would have created optional solid‑background license plates with an estimated revenue projection, failed to reach the required two‑thirds for its fee disposition (ayes 38, nays 29, excused 3).
The House concluded the day by announcing committee meetings and the Speaker signing several bills in open session as required by the constitution.
Votes at a glance: HB 10‑95 — failed to reach two‑thirds; HB 11‑24 — failed (ayes 21, nays 48, excused 1); HB 11‑25 — failed (ayes 26, nays 43, excused 1); SB 85 — failed (ayes 29, nays 39, excused 2); SB 11 — passed (ayes 46, nays 21, excused 3); SB 24 — failed two‑thirds requirement (ayes 38, nays 29, excused 3).
Reporting note: This roundup draws only on floor speeches and roll‑call tallies recorded on Feb. 4; it does not infer outcomes beyond the House record.
House Bill 10‑95, a proposal from Representative Reimer to align petition submission deadlines to a single March date (described on the floor as an "integrity bill" to give election officials more time), required a two‑thirds vote because of an emergency clause. The House recorded "ayes 31, excused 1" and declared the bill lost for lack of the required two‑thirds.
Representative Schaeffauer's House Bill 11‑24, which would have created a new offense for trespass and political intimidation at places of worship and included a 50‑foot buffer in an amendment, prompted extended debate about existing criminal statutes. "This has nothing to do with the wedding. It has to do with political protest," the sponsor said, but the House did not reach the two‑thirds threshold and the bill was declared lost (recorded ayes 21, nays 48, excused 1).
A proposal to create a statewide task force on artificial intelligence, HB 11‑25, was amended on the floor (amendment moved the start date to July 1, 2026) but the amended bill failed to win a majority on final passage (recorded ayes 26, nays 43, excused 1).
Senate Bill 85, a measure backed by Representative Hughes that would require voter approval before school districts use excess levies (opt‑outs), drew sustained floor debate about local control, taxpayer accountability and the impact on school budgeting. "All this bill does is make sure that the burden is not on the taxpayer, but on the school boards to direct consent from the people if they want to circumvent spending limits," Hughes said. The bill failed to receive a majority (ayes 29, nays 39, excused 2).
Not all measures failed. Senate Bill 11, a technical alignment of statutes on reinstatement fees and abstract driver records carried by Representative Mulder, passed (ayes 46, nays 21, excused 3). Senate Bill 24, which would have created optional solid‑background license plates with an estimated revenue projection, failed to reach the required two‑thirds for its fee disposition (ayes 38, nays 29, excused 3).
The House concluded the day by announcing committee meetings and the Speaker signing several bills in open session as required by the constitution.
Votes at a glance: HB 10‑95 — failed to reach two‑thirds; HB 11‑24 — failed (ayes 21, nays 48, excused 1); HB 11‑25 — failed (ayes 26, nays 43, excused 1); SB 85 — failed (ayes 29, nays 39, excused 2); SB 11 — passed (ayes 46, nays 21, excused 3); SB 24 — failed two‑thirds requirement (ayes 38, nays 29, excused 3).
Reporting note: This roundup draws only on floor speeches and roll‑call tallies recorded on Feb. 4; it does not infer outcomes beyond the House record.
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