Budget & Taxes

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 55: make an appropriation for the payment of extraordinary litigation expenses and to declare an emergency.

SB 55 appropriates $650,000 from South Dakota's general fund to the state's "extraordinary litigation fund" to cover eligible legal costs under § 1-33-8.11. The bill directly affects the state government, specifically the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration, which will approve payments for these expenses. It declares an emergency to allow immediate funding, with unspent funds reverting per standard state procedures. The bill provides no new legal requirements but allocates existing funds for ongoing litigation costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $650k from general fund for litigation expenses, a standard budget action supporting fiscal management of government spending.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 72: extend the time for reverting moneys appropriated for the modernization of the state's enterprise resource planning systems.

This bill extends the deadline for unspent funds allocated to modernize South Dakota's state enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. It amends existing law to delay the date when unused funds must revert to the general fund from June 30, 2029. The change directly affects state agencies managing the ERP modernization project, providing additional time to obligate or spend these funds. The key mechanism is modifying the reversion date in the 2023 appropriations law without altering the funding amount or project scope.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends deadline for ERP funds to prevent premature reversion to general fund, promoting efficient fiscal management of allocated appropriations without altering funding levels.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

failed · South Dakota · House Mar 2, 2026

HB 1086: make an appropriation for providing a grant to a nonprofit that delivers programming to support offenders and correctional staff.

HB 1086 appropriates $2.7 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Corrections for a grant to a nonprofit organization. The nonprofit must provide trauma-informed programming - including leadership development and skills training - to both offenders and correctional staff at three specific state prisons: South Dakota State Penitentiary, Mike Durfee State Prison, and South Dakota Women's Prison. To qualify, the nonprofit must currently operate such programming at a state facility and plan to serve all three prisons, as verified by the Department of Corrections. Unspent funds by June 30, 2031, will revert to the state treasury.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2.7M from general fund for correctional programming grant, directly funding a state budget allocation for essential correctional services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds trauma-informed rehabilitation programs for offenders/staff at prisons, aiming to reduce recidivism through skills training and leadership development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

Track

in committee · South Dakota · House Mar 2, 2026

HB 1202: authorize the construction of a trades center on the campus of Lake Area Technical College, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency.

This bill appropriates $5.2 million from the state general fund to construct a trades center at Lake Area Technical College, providing new classrooms, labs, and student services for technical training programs. The college must secure matching funds from non-state sources (gifts, grants, etc.) equal to the state appropriation before the funds are released. The legislature declared an emergency to expedite the project, which will not use bonds for completion and requires approval of expenditures by the Department of Education and state auditor. The center directly affects students and staff at Lake Area Technical College by expanding hands-on training facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $5.2M from state general fund for public college infrastructure, directly funding higher education through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $5.2M for new technical training facilities at Lake Area Technical College, directly funding higher education infrastructure and program expansion per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

Track

in committee · South Dakota · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 1213: make an appropriation for a statewide educator retention initiative.

HB 1213 appropriates $2.5 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Education for a statewide educator retention initiative. The bill provides grants to public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to address retention challenges, using both quantitative and qualitative data to identify and resolve underlying issues. School districts must apply for funding, with grants covering program costs during fiscal years 2026-2029, and the Department may use up to 5% of the appropriation for administration. This initiative requires a comprehensive approach to support educators, with funds allocated based on approved applications and expiring June 30, 2029.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2.5M from general fund for educator retention grants, advancing public education funding through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $2.5M for educator retention grants to address teacher shortages, directly supporting teacher retention and school stability through funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

Track

signed · South Dakota · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 1118: make an appropriation for the design and construction of an addition to the existing swine wean-to-finish barn at South Dakota State University and to declare an emergency.

HB 1118 appropriates $1,720,000 to fund the design and construction of a new wean-to-finish barn addition at South Dakota State University's swine research facility. The bill directly affects SDSU's agricultural programs and swine research operations by enabling facility upgrades for raising pigs from weaning to market weight. Key provisions include allowing cost adjustments for inflation (up to 125% of the initial amount), accepting external funds (like federal grants or donations), and declaring an emergency to expedite funding. The bill does not alter existing laws but provides specific funding for this infrastructure project.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates $1.72M for SDSU facility construction, directly funding a public university project under budgetary allocation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

failed · South Dakota · House Feb 24, 2026

HB 1308: reduce certain property taxes for owner-occupied property, and to increase the rates for certain gross receipts taxes and use taxes.

This bill reduces property taxes for homeowners by lowering the mill levy rate on owner-occupied single-family homes from $5.21 to $20.51 per $1,000 of taxable value (with the exact figure clarified in the bill text). It simultaneously raises the state sales tax from 4.2% to 4.7% for 2026-2027 and to 5% after 2027, and expands the gross receipts tax to cover more services like dry cleaning, beauty shops, and rentals. The revenue from these tax increases is explicitly allocated to replace lost school district property tax revenue and fund pay raises for state and school employees. The bill ensures school districts maintain their total funding levels under the new system.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces property taxes for homeowners while raising sales/gross receipts taxes to fund state education, aligning with budget management goals per subjects and revenue allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRevenue from increased sales/gross receipts taxes explicitly allocated to replace lost education funding per subjects and summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

Track

failed · South Dakota · House Feb 24, 2026

HB 1113: establish a manufactured housing downpayment assistance program.

HB 1113 establishes a downpayment assistance program for manufactured or mobile home buyers in South Dakota. The program provides zero-interest loans of up to $10,000 per applicant from a $5 million revolving fund in the South Dakota housing infrastructure fund. Eligibility requires household income below 120% of the state median income and purchasing a home meeting federal safety standards and local zoning requirements for single-family residences. Repayments return to the fund to support new loans, with loans secured by a second lien due upon home sale or repayment of the primary mortgage. This directly assists low-to-moderate income residents seeking to purchase qualifying manufactured or mobile homes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M state fund for housing downpayment assistance, funding essential housing program through revolving loan mechanism.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides downpayment assistance for manufactured housing buyers via zero-interest loans, targeting low-income households to increase affordable housing access through state funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

Track

signed · South Dakota · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 1047: make an appropriation for the construction costs at the Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery, and to declare an emergency.

HB 1047 appropriates $8 million total ($3.5 million in federal funds and $4.5 million in other funds) to construct, renovate, and modernize infrastructure at the Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery. The funds cover facilities like heating, plumbing, laboratories, and equipment to support the hatchery’s operations. The bill declares an emergency to expedite the project, allowing immediate use of funds without standard delay procedures. It directs the Department of Game, Fish and Parks to manage the work and outlines payment processes for the project.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $8M for hatchery infrastructure, funding essential public construction project under state budget.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

failed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 24: create a solid background license plate for South Dakota.

SB 24 creates a new solid black or solid white license plate option for South Dakota residents. It allows owners of eligible vehicles (cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles) with valid licenses to purchase these plates for a $100 annual fee. Of this fee, $25 funds a special revenue account and $75 supports the state highway fund. Personalization is available for an extra $25, and plates can be transferred like existing specialty plates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new $100 annual fee with $75 funding highway fund, directly supporting state budget through dedicated revenue stream92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates $75 annually per plate to state highway fund, directly funding transportation infrastructure maintenance and improvements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

Track