Florida resident pushing for recited prayers in South Dakota public schools

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - All eyes are on the election this year but one potential ballot measure for 2026 is making noise in South Dakota.

A man based out of Florida is pushing for a state-mandated prayer to be recited each morning.

It won’t be until November of 2025 when this ballot measure can get signatures, but there is a big question that will need to be answered for this ballot measure to even make it to the secretary of state’s desk for certification.

Hillel Hellinger, the sponsor of the ballot measure, based out of North Miami Beach Florida, told Dakota News Now that he doesn’t believe there is a conflict of separation of church and state since these prayers are non-denominational.

However, in a set of comments sent to Dakota News Now, Hellinger sees the belief in God as a central foundational aspect to the founding of the nation as evident in the Declaration of Independence.

Hellinger believes this ballot measure can bring faith back to America and teach children to be more virtuous in their behavior.

Although the First Amendment doesn’t specifically address the term separation of church and state, the case of Everson v. Board of Education discussed a wall of separation that should be present between government and religious institutions. It also confirmed that the government can’t favor one religion over another.

Samantha Chapman the Advocacy Manager of the ACLU Chapter of South Dakota isn’t buying this argument.

“This aimed prayer in schools is set to be non-denominational, it’s still going to send a message that the government is going to favor some kind of prayer or belief system over those who don’t have any faith or religion,” Chapman said.

The Legislative Research Council acknowledged the potential legal troubles and, in a letter sent to the sponsor, they said that he may want to make modifications to the text of the proposal to address constitutional issues.

Teachers would lead students in the prayer. Students and teachers would have the option to opt out. It’s not clear what that opt-out process would look like.

Chapman said she can’t speculate how favorable this measure would be if it made it to the ballot box, but she did say it probably wouldn’t be popular for those affected.

“I think both students and teachers alike wouldn’t be fans of this sort of lobbying in place of South Dakota, teachers don’t want to be told what they have to say to their students every day. Students and parents don’t want to be forced to recite specific doctrines,” Chapman said.

Hellinger said ultimately it will be up to the citizens of South Dakota to vote for what they think is best.

Students and teachers would say the following: “Almighty God, who is aware of His creation, who keeps it going and judges it, please have mercy on us.”

In a statement, the South Dakota Education Association said it would oppose anyone outside of South Dakota who attempts to undermine the constitutional rights of those working and learning in our public schools.