Edmunds County Tribune -

October Legislative Report

Thank you for the opportunity to return to the South Dakota State Senate again in 2023! I am honored and humbled by the support I continue to receive as I travel our district. We have many topics on our agenda this session, from landowner rights to tax relief, from support for our counties and schools, to access to healthcare for our rural residents. Our topics are diverse, but we all agree that our rural South Dakota roots continue to make South Dakota the great state it is!

Our last Interim Appropriations meeting is coming up on November 10. We will hear several reports of approved appropriations projects throughout the state, and learn more about some care programs, workforce initiatives and school funding topics.

The Regional Jail Summer Study work was concluded November 1 with several priorities and plans to introduce legislation. I was assigned to lead a legislative task force that will work on the bill draft for county regional jail grant/loan parameters, so we have proposed legislation to work from early in session.

Both the long-term care and in-home care reimbursement methodology taskforces have concluded their work. The state’s goal is to update the reimbursement methodology for these various industries every five years. The long-term care reimbursement task force approved recommendations that would require $62M in state dollars to bring Medicaid reimbursement for nursing homes to 100% of cost. The in-home care reimbursement task force approved recommendations that would require $5.5M in state dollars for Medicaid reimbursement for in-home care to 100% of cost. Both will be presented to the legislature and be included in the state budget, which the legislature will then decide what degree of funding will be approved for these industries.

All our district legislative delegation continues to receive a tremendous amount of education and updates on the proposed carbon sequestration pipelines. There are several legislative pieces in various phases of draft that can be applied for various ways of impact. We are monitoring the voluntary easement signings closely to see where the draft legislation will have the appropriate impact.

Earlier this week, I was able to attend the Department of Public Safety Emergency Vehicle Operation Course Re-Opening! More than twenty years ago, DPS built an emergency vehicle operations course to train law enforcement personnel on various vehicle situations. Over the years, the course has deteriorated, so this year it was resurfaced and improved. I got to ride along with an instructor who went through the course. I commend all our law enforcement officers for their highly diversified skills of interpersonal communications, safety, de-escalation, first aid, stamina, community involvement, and of course driving skills.

I wish to offer my condolences and prayers to our new District 23 House of Representative JD Wangsness, as he and his son morn the loss of JD’s wife Melanie after a long fight with cancer.

I hope everyone had the opportunity to enjoy our great state bird events this fall. The opportunity to enjoy South Dakota’s natural beauty is always a reminder of our blessings to live in our great state!

In closing, we have downsized our home in Miller. We have moved to 119 W 4th Ave, PO Box 166, Miller, SD 57362. My cell phone remains 605-450-8706. And, as always, I can be reached at [email protected]. I look forward to continued conversations!