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Campus carry bill fails in House committee

Campus carry bill fails in House committee

Photo: Metro Services


The House Education Committee killed a bill Monday that would have removed enhanced permit rules for concealed carry on SD college campuses.

The committee killed HB 1133 on a 9 to 6 vote.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dylan Jordan, R-Clear Lake, would have removed the requirement that individuals hold an enhanced permit to carry concealed pistols on campuses of Board of Regents universities and technical colleges. Under current law passed as Senate Bill 100 in 2025, only individuals with enhanced permits may carry concealed weapons on campus.

Student governments at both South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota opposed the measure.

Anna Hunt, Student Association Government Affairs Chair at SDSU, informed the committee that the Student Association unanimously approved a resolution against the bill at an emergency meeting on Friday evening.

“I am here today on behalf of the Student Association, which represents over 12,000 SDSU students in opposition to House Bill 1133,” Hunt said.

Hunt said enhanced permit training covers South Dakota firearms law and the lawful use of force.

Another opponent, a student who also bring her child to campus with her, said allowing concealed firearms carried by individuals who have not completed enhanced training raised concerns about campus and child safety.

Supporters argued the enhanced permit requirement creates an unnecessary barrier to self-defense.

Levi Taglioli, a USD student, and founder of Conservative Students for South Dakota, disputed claims that the bill would reduce campus safety.

“This is a campus carry bill to respond to the Board of Regents,” Taglioli said. “We do have gun control on campuses. That’s what this (the current policy) is.”

Taglioli also argued that the enhanced permit class focuses on legal instruction rather than firearm handling.

“It is not a safety briefing. It doesn’t teach you how to use a gun. It teaches you the law,” he said.

Nathan Lucas, representing the Board of Regents, said universities do not track who carries concealed weapons on campus.

“We don’t know if 1,000 people are carrying or if two people are carrying because we don’t ask,” Lucas said.

According to Lucas, the Board of Regents has had no complaints about Senate Bill 100 since it was implemented seven months ago.

The committee sent the bill to the 41st legislative day, killing the measure.

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