This story has been updated with comments from Rep. Phil Jensen.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The bill doesn’t say why but Republican Rep. Phil Jensen of District 33 wanted the Department of Education to not send any state education money to the Huron School District.
The bill is House Bill 1224 and it was introduced on Tuesday and Jensen said was withdrawn on Wednesday. The bill was called “defund the Huron School District.”
House panel keeps 15-day voter-registration deadline
Jensen said in an Interview with KELOLAND’s Bob Mercer that he introduced the bill in response to a concern shared with him about girls not being protected from boys using girls restrooms or locker rooms in the school.
“I withdrew it today,” Jensen said Wednesday.
“…it was only to get (the district’s) attention,” Jensen said. He wanted the district to explain its policy.
The bill did get the district’s attention in what district superintendent Kraig Steinhoff said in a statement to KELOLAND News that was in a negative way.
“I have yet to hear the why of HB 1224. It is disappointing and has caused fear, confusion, and unnecessary stress,” Steinhoff said in his statement.
Steinhoff was contacted later by KELOLAND for a response to Jensen’s stated reason for introducing the defunding bill.
“Representative Jensen and I have not communicated. I understand HB 1224 has been withdrawn,” Steinhoff said in his Wednesday afternoon statement.
Jensen said he stepped down as vice chair of the House Education Committee. “Leadership asked me to step down,” he said. Jensen said it was because of all the “brouhaha” over the bill.
Steinhoff and Rob Monson of the School Administrators of South Dakota met with House leadership Rep. John Hansen and Majority Leader Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach Wednesday morning to request that Jensen be permanently removed as vice chair of the education committee, according to a Facebook post from Monson.
“He is currently the Vice Chair of that committee and in my opinion, based on his actions, is unfit to serve on that committee,” Monson said in his Facebook post.
Monson said he and Steinhoff are not the only individuals concerned about HB1224.
“I will also share that there were other members from the Huron community present in the Capitol today that shared the same disdain with the leadership,” Monson said in his Wednesday Facebook post.
Monson thanked the two House leaders for listening and hoped they took the request seriously to help heal the divide between this legislator (Rep. Phil Jensen) and the Huron community.
“As the Superintendent, I am proud to serve ALL students of the Huron School District (HSD) and will support and defend HSD with every breath I take,” Steinhoff said in his statement to KELOLAND News.
Huron was to receive $18.6 million in state aid during the current fiscal 2025 year, according to the state Department of Education. It would receive an estimated $3.9 million in state aid for special education.
KELOLAND also sent emails to Odenbach and Hansen Wednesday morning which asked for a reply by 4:30 p.m. If they or either responds, this story will be updated.
KELOLAND has always sent an email to Republican Sen. David Wheeler from Huron who represents District 22. The story will be updated if there is a reply.
Capitol News Bureau reporter Bob Mercer contributed to this story.
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Rep. Phil Jensen targeted education aid to Huron Schools
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This story has been updated with comments from Rep. Phil Jensen.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The bill doesn’t say why but Republican Rep. Phil Jensen of District 33 wanted the Department of Education to not send any state education money to the Huron School District.
The bill is House Bill 1224 and it was introduced on Tuesday and Jensen said was withdrawn on Wednesday. The bill was called “defund the Huron School District.”
House panel keeps 15-day voter-registration deadline
Jensen said in an Interview with KELOLAND’s Bob Mercer that he introduced the bill in response to a concern shared with him about girls not being protected from boys using girls restrooms or locker rooms in the school.
“I withdrew it today,” Jensen said Wednesday.
“…it was only to get (the district’s) attention,” Jensen said. He wanted the district to explain its policy.
The bill did get the district’s attention in what district superintendent Kraig Steinhoff said in a statement to KELOLAND News that was in a negative way.
“I have yet to hear the why of HB 1224. It is disappointing and has caused fear, confusion, and unnecessary stress,” Steinhoff said in his statement.
Steinhoff was contacted later by KELOLAND for a response to Jensen’s stated reason for introducing the defunding bill.
“Representative Jensen and I have not communicated. I understand HB 1224 has been withdrawn,” Steinhoff said in his Wednesday afternoon statement.
Jensen said he stepped down as vice chair of the House Education Committee. “Leadership asked me to step down,” he said. Jensen said it was because of all the “brouhaha” over the bill.
Steinhoff and Rob Monson of the School Administrators of South Dakota met with House leadership Rep. John Hansen and Majority Leader Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach Wednesday morning to request that Jensen be permanently removed as vice chair of the education committee, according to a Facebook post from Monson.
“He is currently the Vice Chair of that committee and in my opinion, based on his actions, is unfit to serve on that committee,” Monson said in his Facebook post.
Monson said he and Steinhoff are not the only individuals concerned about HB1224.
“I will also share that there were other members from the Huron community present in the Capitol today that shared the same disdain with the leadership,” Monson said in his Wednesday Facebook post.
Monson thanked the two House leaders for listening and hoped they took the request seriously to help heal the divide between this legislator (Rep. Phil Jensen) and the Huron community.
“As the Superintendent, I am proud to serve ALL students of the Huron School District (HSD) and will support and defend HSD with every breath I take,” Steinhoff said in his statement to KELOLAND News.
Huron was to receive $18.6 million in state aid during the current fiscal 2025 year, according to the state Department of Education. It would receive an estimated $3.9 million in state aid for special education.
KELOLAND also sent emails to Odenbach and Hansen Wednesday morning which asked for a reply by 4:30 p.m. If they or either responds, this story will be updated.
KELOLAND has always sent an email to Republican Sen. David Wheeler from Huron who represents District 22. The story will be updated if there is a reply.
Capitol News Bureau reporter Bob Mercer contributed to this story.
Written by: The Dam Rock Station
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