Lawmakers on a South Dakota house committee are narrowly rejecting a bill that requires school districts to allow an honor song during high school graduation ceremonies.
Last session, lawmakers passed a law that allows the wearing of tribal regalia and culturally significant objects, like eagle feathers and plumes.
Democratic State Representative Shaun Bordeaux says the honor song is a critical piece.
“Usually, when someone is presented with a feather, there’s also a song that’s sang,” Bordeaux says. “That song could be a blessing song to where it kind of speaks to blessing the event or ceremony or what-have-you. It could be something as simple as there are certain songs that are sang to honor the person.”
Opponents include the Associated School Boards of South Dakota who want school boards to decide on whether to allow a ceremony.
Lawmakers voting against the bill say they want to leave the decision up to local school boards.
The bill failed seven to six.
Bordeaux says he’s worried attorneys will file lawsuits against school districts that prevent these ceremonies, under the Freedom of Religion Act.