House education committee kills Gov. Kristi Noem's moment of silence and prayer bill

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The House Education Committee voted 9-6 Friday to kill Gov. Kristi Noem's proposed moment of silence bill that she said would restore prayer in schools in South Dakota.

As it was written, the bill required students and all school employees, not just teachers, to have up to one minute each morning to engage in "voluntary prayer, reflection, meditation or other quiet, respectful activity."

School employees wouldn't have been allowed to dictate what action students took, or how they took action. Students also couldn't interfere with other students' engagement in the moment of silence. Schools also could not conduct the moment of silence as a religious exercise.

Opponents of the bill testified Friday that students can already pray in schools, and that unnecessary legislation should not be created to place such a mandate on schools, which already balance many regulations and procedures.