South Dakota 2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 6 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 198 — restrict the use of a cell phone by a student during the school day.

Last action — House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 28, NAYS 39 H.J. 524

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 29, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 46% · high confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 7 sponsors

    7 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (6 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Mixed recorded votes

    5 passed, 3 failed in recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

3 added · 2 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill SB 198 has been updated to broaden its restrictions on cell phone use by students. It now prohibits the use of cell phones throughout the entire school day, rather than just during instructional time. This change aims to reduce distractions and improve focus among students during all school activities.

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26.628.10 101st Legislative Session 198 South Dakota Legislature Senate Bill 198 Introduced by:
26.628.11 101st Legislative Session 198 South Dakota Legislature Senate Bill 198 SENATE EDUCATION ENGROSSED Introduced by:
Senator Karr An Act to restrict the use of a cell phone by a student during instructional time.
Senator Karr An Act to restrict the use of a cell phone by a student during the school day.
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Action History

  1. House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 28, NAYS 39 H.J. 524

  2. House of Representatives Motion to amend , Passed, H.J. 524 Amendment 198C

  3. Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6 , Passed, YEAS 50, NAYS 17 H.J. 508

  4. Education Report out of committee without recommendation , Passed,

  5. Recalled from committee (Rule 7-7) , Passed, H.J. 485

  6. Education Deferred to the 41st legislative day , Passed, YEAS 8, NAYS 7

  7. Scheduled for hearing

  8. Scheduled for hearing

  9. First read in House and referred to House Education H.J. 356

  10. Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 19, NAYS 15 S.J. 281

  11. Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6 , Passed, YEAS 19, NAYS 14 S.J. 247

  12. Education Report out of committee without recommendation as amended , Passed, YEAS 5, NAYS 2 S.J. 9

  13. Education Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 3, NAYS 4 S.J. 9

  14. Education Motion to amend , Passed, S.J. 9 Amendment 198A

  15. Education Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 3, NAYS 4 S.J. 9

  16. Scheduled for hearing

  17. First read in Senate and referred to Senate Education S.J. 139

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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7 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 98 not signed on · 60 voted No

Sponsors (7)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (98)

98 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 98 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Do Pass Amended

Failed 28 Yea · 39 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 253503
Democratic 3200
Unaffiliated 0200
Total 283903
% of votes cast 40%56%0%4%
How each member voted (70)
Member Party Vote
Kolbeck (Jack) — Nay
Van Diepen — Nay
Eric Emery Democratic Nay
Erik Muckey Democratic Yea
Erin Healy Democratic Yea
Kadyn Wittman Democratic Yea
Nicole Uhre-Balk Democratic Nay
Aaron Aylward Republican Nay
Al Novstrup Republican Nay
Amber Arlint Republican Yea
Bethany Soye Republican Not Voting
Bobbi Andera Republican Nay
Brandei Schaefbauer Republican Nay
Brian Mulder Republican Yea
Chris Kassin Republican Nay
Curt Massie Republican Nay
David Kull Republican Nay
Drew Peterson Republican Nay
Dylan Jordan Republican Nay
Greg Jamison Republican Yea
Heather Baxter Republican Nay
Jana Hunt Republican Nay
Jeff Bathke Republican Not Voting
Jessica Bahmuller Republican Yea
Jim Halverson Republican Nay
John Hughes Republican Yea
John Shubeck Republican Nay
John Sjaarda Republican Nay
Jon Hansen Republican Yea
Josephine Garcia Republican Yea
Julie Auch Republican Nay
Kaley Nolz Republican Nay
Karla Lems Republican Nay
Kathy Rice Republican Nay
Kent Roe Republican Yea
Keri Weems Republican Yea
Lana Greenfield Republican Yea
Leslie Heinemann Republican Yea
Liz May Republican Yea
Logan Manhart Republican Yea
Marty Overweg Republican Nay
Mary Fitzgerald Republican Nay
Matt Roby Republican Nay
Mellissa Heermann Republican Yea
Mike Derby Republican Yea
Mike Stevens Republican Nay
Mike Weisgram Republican Nay
Nick Fosness Republican Nay
Peri Pourier Republican Nay
Phil Jensen Republican Nay
Rebecca Reimer Republican Nay
Roger DeGroot Republican Nay
Scott Moore Republican Nay
Scott Odenbach Republican Yea
Spencer Gosch Republican Nay
Steve Duffy Republican Yea
Taylor Rehfeldt Republican Yea
Terri Jorgenson Republican Yea
Tesa Schwans Republican Yea
Tim Czmowski Republican Not Voting
Tim Goodwin Republican Nay
Tim Reisch Republican Nay
Tim Walburg Republican Yea
Tina Mulally Republican Nay
Tony Kayser Republican Nay
Tony Randolph Republican Yea
Travis Ismay Republican Nay
Trish Ladner Republican Yea
Will Mortenson Republican Yea
William Shorma Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6

Passed 50 Yea · 17 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 441603
Democratic 5000
Unaffiliated 1100
Total 501703
% of votes cast 71%24%0%4%
How each member voted (70)
Member Party Vote
Kolbeck (Jack) — Nay
Van Diepen — Yea
Eric Emery Democratic Yea
Erik Muckey Democratic Yea
Erin Healy Democratic Yea
Kadyn Wittman Democratic Yea
Nicole Uhre-Balk Democratic Yea
Aaron Aylward Republican Nay
Al Novstrup Republican Yea
Amber Arlint Republican Yea
Bethany Soye Republican Not Voting
Bobbi Andera Republican Yea
Brandei Schaefbauer Republican Nay
Brian Mulder Republican Yea
Chris Kassin Republican Nay
Curt Massie Republican Yea
David Kull Republican Yea
Drew Peterson Republican Nay
Dylan Jordan Republican Nay
Greg Jamison Republican Yea
Heather Baxter Republican Yea
Jana Hunt Republican Nay
Jeff Bathke Republican Not Voting
Jessica Bahmuller Republican Yea
Jim Halverson Republican Yea
John Hughes Republican Yea
John Shubeck Republican Nay
John Sjaarda Republican Nay
Jon Hansen Republican Yea
Josephine Garcia Republican Yea
Julie Auch Republican Yea
Kaley Nolz Republican Nay
Karla Lems Republican Yea
Kathy Rice Republican Nay
Kent Roe Republican Yea
Keri Weems Republican Yea
Lana Greenfield Republican Yea
Leslie Heinemann Republican Yea
Liz May Republican Yea
Logan Manhart Republican Yea
Marty Overweg Republican Yea
Mary Fitzgerald Republican Yea
Matt Roby Republican Yea
Mellissa Heermann Republican Yea
Mike Derby Republican Yea
Mike Stevens Republican Nay
Mike Weisgram Republican Yea
Nick Fosness Republican Yea
Peri Pourier Republican Yea
Phil Jensen Republican Nay
Rebecca Reimer Republican Yea
Roger DeGroot Republican Yea
Scott Moore Republican Nay
Scott Odenbach Republican Yea
Spencer Gosch Republican Nay
Steve Duffy Republican Yea
Taylor Rehfeldt Republican Yea
Terri Jorgenson Republican Yea
Tesa Schwans Republican Yea
Tim Czmowski Republican Not Voting
Tim Goodwin Republican Yea
Tim Reisch Republican Yea
Tim Walburg Republican Yea
Tina Mulally Republican Yea
Tony Kayser Republican Nay
Tony Randolph Republican Yea
Travis Ismay Republican Nay
Trish Ladner Republican Yea
Will Mortenson Republican Yea
William Shorma Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Deferred to the 41st legislative day

Passed 8 Yea · 7 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 7700
Democratic 1000
Total 8700
% of votes cast 53%47%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Nicole Uhre-Balk Democratic Yea
Amber Arlint Republican Nay
Dylan Jordan Republican Yea
Heather Baxter Republican Yea
Jim Halverson Republican Nay
Josephine Garcia Republican Yea
Kaley Nolz Republican Yea
Kathy Rice Republican Yea
Lana Greenfield Republican Nay
Logan Manhart Republican Nay
Mellissa Heermann Republican Nay
Mike Stevens Republican Yea
Roger DeGroot Republican Nay
Tesa Schwans Republican Yea
Travis Ismay Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do Pass Amended

Passed 19 Yea · 15 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 161401
Democratic 2100
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 191501
% of votes cast 54%43%0%3%
How each member voted (35)
Member Party Vote
Otten — Yea
Jamie Smith Democratic Nay
Liz Larson Democratic Yea
Red Dawn Foster Democratic Yea
Amber Hulse Republican Nay
Arch Beal Republican Not Voting
Brandon Wipf Republican Nay
Carl Perry Republican Yea
Casey Crabtree Republican Yea
Chris Karr Republican Yea
Curt Voight Republican Yea
Glen Vilhauer Republican Nay
Greg Blanc Republican Yea
Helene Duhamel Republican Nay
Jim Mehlhaff Republican Yea
John Carley Republican Yea
Joy Hohn Republican Yea
Kevin Jensen Republican Yea
Kyle Schoenfish Republican Nay
Larry Zikmund Republican Yea
Lauren Nelson Republican Nay
Mark Lapka Republican Nay
Michael Rohl Republican Yea
Mykala Voita Republican Yea
Paul Miskimins Republican Nay
Randy Deibert Republican Nay
Sam Marty Republican Nay
Stephanie Sauder Republican Nay
Steve Kolbeck Republican Nay
Sue Peterson Republican Yea
Sydney Davis Republican Nay
Taffy Howard Republican Yea
Tamara Grove Republican Yea
Tim Reed Republican Nay
Tom Pischke Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6

Passed 19 Yea · 14 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 171202
Democratic 2100
Unaffiliated 0100
Total 191402
% of votes cast 54%40%0%6%
How each member voted (35)
Member Party Vote
Otten — Nay
Jamie Smith Democratic Yea
Liz Larson Democratic Yea
Red Dawn Foster Democratic Nay
Amber Hulse Republican Nay
Arch Beal Republican Not Voting
Brandon Wipf Republican Nay
Carl Perry Republican Yea
Casey Crabtree Republican Nay
Chris Karr Republican Yea
Curt Voight Republican Yea
Glen Vilhauer Republican Nay
Greg Blanc Republican Yea
Helene Duhamel Republican Nay
Jim Mehlhaff Republican Yea
John Carley Republican Yea
Joy Hohn Republican Yea
Kevin Jensen Republican Yea
Kyle Schoenfish Republican Nay
Larry Zikmund Republican Yea
Lauren Nelson Republican Yea
Mark Lapka Republican Yea
Michael Rohl Republican Nay
Mykala Voita Republican Yea
Paul Miskimins Republican Nay
Randy Deibert Republican Nay
Sam Marty Republican Yea
Stephanie Sauder Republican Nay
Steve Kolbeck Republican Nay
Sue Peterson Republican Not Voting
Sydney Davis Republican Yea
Taffy Howard Republican Yea
Tamara Grove Republican Yea
Tim Reed Republican Nay
Tom Pischke Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 198?
SB 198 is sponsored by Curt Voight (Republican), Carl Perry (Republican), Liz Larson (Democratic), Leslie Heinemann (Republican), Bobbi Andera (Republican), Taylor Rehfeldt (Republican), and Chris Karr (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 198?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 29, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 198?
Track SB 198 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

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