(Pierre, SD) — Two bills involving hot-button issues are now South Dakota law. One is House Bill 12-59, which bans transgender people from using a school bathroom or locker room that matches their gender identity. Supporters say it protects girls in private spaces while the Transformation Project — a Sioux Falls nonprofit — called it a knock against the transgender community. Governor Rhoden also signed House Bill 12-39, which will allow people to ask local public libraries or school boards to remove obscene materials. The legislation sparked some fierce debate among lawmakers, parents, educators and librarians over the past two months. In his announcement Friday, Rhoden said the new laws will protect South Dakota values.
