South Dakota House Committee Narrowly Advances Bill Restricting School Support for Unions

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - In a narrow 8-7 vote on Wednesday morning, the House Education Committee moved forward with a controversial bill that would prohibit public school districts from using their resources to support teachers’ unions.

House Bill 1217, sponsored by Representative John Hughes (R-Sioux Falls), aims to enforce what he describes as “neutrality” within the public education system.

Proponents Seek “Neutrality” in Schools

The bill would end several long-standing practices in South Dakota districts, most notably the use of automatic payroll deductions for union dues. Rep. Hughes argued that schools should not function as a “collection arm” for unions at the taxpayers’ expense.

“This bill is all about keeping things neutral,” Hughes said during the hearing. “Schools can’t play favorites with their facilities. They also can’t officially endorse a union”.

In addition to halting payroll deductions, the bill aims to close loopholes that would allow districts to raise teacher salaries solely to offset union dues.

Opponents Decry “Unnecessary” Regulation

The bill faced stiff opposition, including from fellow Republicans with backgrounds in education administration. Representative Roger DeGroot (R-Brookings), a former school superintendent, challenged the idea that payroll deductions are a burden on the state.

“Once a year, the business manager... punches something into the computer and it just happens the rest of the year,” DeGroot noted, describing the administrative effort as “minimal cost”.

DeGroot emphasized that many benefits, such as paid time off, have historically been negotiated locally between school boards and unions. He framed the bill as an unnecessary intrusion into local control, noting his 40-year history of working collaboratively with unions from the administrative side.