SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Should South Dakota Department of Education money be made available for private schooling? It's a question already grabbing attention as lawmakers gather in Pierre for a newly-launched legislative session. House Bill 1020 would make $4 million of state Department of Education money available for private education, a commitment which Gov. Kristi Noem is recommending as an ongoing expenditure. This money would come from the department's general fund; overall, it would mean roughly $3,000 in the first year for a qualifying student, who could put that money toward attending a private school, enrolling in a microschool, buying instructional materials and more. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem endorsed the proposal for these "education savings accounts" during her State of the State address Tuesday. "We won't impact any of the funding that goes to our great public schools," Noem said Tuesday. "These ESAs will be a testament of our ability to meet the unique needs of every single South Dakota family that participates." Given President-elect Donald Trump's selection of Noem to be secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, it appears her days holding office in Pierre are numbered. Current Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden would become governor with Noem's departure, and Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach, the prime sponsor of HB 1020 in the House, tells KELOLAND News that Rhoden supports the legislation. Minnesota man pleads guilty to SF bank robbery Following Noem's address, KELOLAND News asked lawmakers Tuesday about the voucher proposal; Democratic Sen. Jamie Smith's opposition is as clear as Noem's support, while Republican Rep. Amber Arlint is taking a wait-and-see approach. Each will sit on their chamber's education committee during the legislative session. "The school vouchers are just not a good idea," said Smith, who lives in Sioux Falls. "We need all the funding we can to go to public education. Public educators are the only one mandated by the state to educate every student in the state of South Dakota." "I'm getting a lot of feedback from constituents, and I think that we haven't heard exactly all of the plans and exactly how it's going to be laid out," said Arlint, who lives in Sioux Falls. "There's some concerns from my homeschool families that they want to make sure that they have the freedom to educate their kids the way that they'd like to."