House Report by James Wangsness
It’s Ground Hog Day! While this is a day to boost our spirits in the dead of winter, it has more significance to me. This is my mom’s birthday, she would have been 86 today. This is also the day my dad passed away, 4 short months after he lost his life partner. Finally, 2 years ago today the AG shop attached to the Miller High School blew up! My son, an 8th grader, was evacuated with all the students at the Miller school. It was a surreal experience on a very cold day. I do not want to repeat Ground Hog Day.
On to session, it has been a busy couple of weeks finalizing bill drafts prior to the January 31 deadline. There are just shy of 500 bills to work through this session. We are two weeks away from crossover day, so we have much work to do.
Some bills that impact our district have already made there way through committees with varying success.
-HB1113 “prohibiting state resources from being used on board of regents facilities for lewd and lascivious activities” This bill was referred to the 41st day, I opposed that motion.
-HB1154 would have set 18 as the minimum age for marriage. While this has merit, without addressing the age of consent, 16, this would have created a problem in those cases where a baby is involved. A mother under the age of 18 would not be allowed to marry the father.
A couple of bills regarding residency have been heard.
-SB54 which requires 180 days of physically living in a domicile to qualify for a residence hunting and fishing license. This bill conflicts with other residency laws in code and I did oppose this on the floor.
-SB17 is a fix from last year's SB139 that requires 30 residency before you can vote. While we need residency requirements, current law has been deemed unconstitutional and with an election fast approaching, the state has to be in compliance. We are working on a solution in the framework of SB17.
Regarding economic development in our District.
-SB78 “An Act to provide for an E15 tax refund” This bill will encourage retailers to sell E15 with a five-cent per gallon refund. This bill is heading to the house floor.
-SB 153 passed through the Senate Ag and Natural Resources Committee unanimously last Thursday. This bill provided for an appropriation for Lake Hiddenwood in Walworth County.
Monday House Commerce and Energy will start hearings on multiple bills regarding Eminent Domain and Pipelines. This is a very controversial issue and I am working diligently to protect our landowner's rights. There is an opportunity to get some legitimate protections in place. We need to be careful not to push too hard and end up with nothing to show, like last year. I am a landowner, cattle producer, corn and soybean grower. These issues impact all of us and we need to find a pathway that protects landowners and encourages economic growth so that we have demand for our products and a future for our children.
Senate Report by Bryan Breitling
Halfway Through 2024 Legislative Session!
This first full week of February is the middle week of this year’s session. Last week was the last day to introduce bills, and next week is revenue setting deadline. Activity is ramping up with good bills continuing to make their way, and bills that need more study are falling away.
In Joint Appropriations this fourth week, we heard budget reports from Departments of Corrections, Tourism, Game Fish & Parks, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
The biggest news this week is related to the Governor’s Joint Legislative Address on Wednesday, Jan 31. All states have a partnership called an Emergency Management and Assistance Compact (EMAC). In most instances of EMAC requests, South Dakota is reimbursed for any expenses we encounter, through FEMA from natural disasters or from some other mechanism from the requesting state. In the two times we have sent troops to Texas for border security, South Dakota received a one-time partial fund donation, and no reimbursement on the second deployment. Likely, we will have another deployment this year.
Twenty-five Republican states are meeting to plan the management of border security. Regardless of everyone’s position on South Dakota National Guard Deployment for border security, enhanced management of the border is important to minimize the flow of drugs and human trafficking that is making its way to South Dakota. In short, we need more legal immigration to fill our ever-growing job vacancies, and less illegal immigration to slow the illegal activities that follow. The legislature will be having discussions regarding how to update this year’s EMAC budget and any statutory limits on this process for ’25 and beyond.
Some highlights of the week are: HB1035 expanding the period of renewal for an enhanced permit to carry a concealed pistol was passed. SB136 expand the scope of a physician wellness program was passed. SB103 standardize certain school safety practices was defeated. SB44 an appropriation to reimburse rural health care professionals who have complied with the requirements for recruitment was passed. SB16 water & sewer Omnibus water bill was passed, and SB28 a property tax refund for the elderly and persons with a disability was passed.
The upcoming cracker barrels are Feb 10 in Aberdeen at NSU at 10 a.m. and Selby at 2 p.m., and Feb 17 in Gettysburg at 2 p.m.
Thanks to the Leola, Selby and Eureka schools for their visit this week! As always, I can be reached at [email protected]. I look forward to continued conversations!
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