Latest news with #AlNovstrup
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Prison bill headed to joint appropriations Thursday
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — House Bill 1025 was on the agenda, removed and on Tuesday placed back on the House Committee on Appropriations agenda. FAQ about the planned new men's prison HB1025 is the final funding and authorization to use $763 million appropriated in the incarceration fund to build a new men's prison in Lincoln County . The House Appropriations invoked Rule 7-1.5 on consideration of matters not posted to add HB1025 to Tuesday's agenda. Committee member Republican Rep. Al Novstrup moved to add it the agenda and then moved for it to be placed on Joint Committee on Appropriations agenda. It was placed on the Joint Committee on Appropriations committee's agenda for Thursday, Feb. 20. 'It's an important issue, and the sooner we get to it the sooner we can move forward on the rest of the budget,' Novstrup said. The committee voted 8-0 with Sjaarda as an excused vote to move HB1025 to the Joint Committee on Appropriations. Kassin, Jack Kolbeck, Muckey, May, Moore, Jorgenson, Novstrup and Derby voted in favor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House defeats bill requiring public schools to set policies for chaplain visits, services in SD
Rep. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, listens to a budgetary brief in Pierre on Jan. 14, 2025. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) A bill requiring public school districts in South Dakota to set policies allowing chaplains to serve within school buildings failed in the South Dakota House of Representatives in a 49-18 vote. Rep. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, introduced House Bill 1054, saying that it would formalize religious outreach efforts in schools and help students to develop relationships with spiritual mentors. Chaplains would serve in schools based on school board policies, including qualification requirements and parental consent. Lawmakers opposed to the bill shared how faith leaders are already involved in many South Dakota schools through clubs and outreach efforts, and worried that a mandated policy would confuse practices in place. Brookings Republican Rep. Mellissa Heermann said she worried about variation in minimum qualifications and teaching standards by school district. Bill requiring public schools set policies for chaplain visits, services in SD passes committee Religion is a personal decision that should be left to a child and their family, said Sioux Falls Democratic Rep. Erin Healy. The bill 'doesn't strengthen religious freedom, it threatens it,' she said. It could potentially alienate a child if a school chaplain instructs different religious values than the student and their family believe. 'Parents send their children to public school to learn to read, to learn to write, and learn to have critical thinking skills,' Healy said. 'They don't send them to public school to have religious instruction imposed on them by government-mandated chaplains.' Proponents of the legislation argued it was written loosely enough to allow for local control and account for concerns raised during debate. Lawmakers this session are also weighing Senate Bill 51, which would mandate that public schools display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. That measure passed the Senate and heads to the House of Representatives. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
