South Dakota House Passes Bill Mandating Cash Acceptance for School Events

The South Dakota House has passed Senate Bill 219, which mandates that public K-12 schools and accredited private schools accept cash for admission to school-related events. This legislation is a response to the Sioux Falls School District and others adopting cashless ticketing policies, which some lawmakers argue could exclude individuals who prefer using cash. The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. John Sjaarda, passed with a narrow 36-34 vote, amidst concerns from opponents who claimed that no one was being turned away due to cashless policies. Proponents emphasized the importance of allowing cash payments, with supporters arguing that it is 'ridiculous' to debate the acceptance of national currency. The bill does not apply to Board of Regents institutions, state technical schools, or third-party vendors. Similar previous bills aimed at addressing this issue had failed in earlier sessions.