PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) The main run of the 2024 Legislative Session ended Thursday, March 7, with approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget which funds state government from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
Education, health care providers, and state employees receive a four percent increase in funding. These three categories are often referred to as the “Big Three” and often, but not always, receive the same funding percentage increase; the four percent increases show a commitment by the legislature in funding the most important obligations of government. Changes were made in law as to how schools must use the increases in education funding. I may dedicate a column or two in the future to discussing the legislation and ramifications of those changes.
120 million dollars in remaining American Rescue Plan Funds will be spent on water and sewer systems for state and local government projects as well as five million dollars in telemedicine grants for nursing home and assisted living centers. 20 million dollars will go to Medicaid Expansion which was approved by the voters in 2022.
The budget bill, House Bill 1259 passed the House, 51-9, and the Senate, 32-2; I voted in favor.
Veto Day will be held Monday, March 25.
I can be contacted at 605-660-6468 or kyle.schoenfish@sdlegislature.gov.
Kyle Schoenfish
District 19 State Senator
Chairman of Senate Education