Rep. Tony Kayser

Maddy summaryHB 1314 modifies South Dakota's election equipment rules to enhance security and standardization. It prohibits internet-connected voting systems, requires vendors to submit software source code for independent review before certification, and mandates annual system updates. The bill directly affects election vendors (who must provide source code and maintain systems), the State Board of Elections (which must certify systems), and local jurisdictions (which must use updated systems or conduct manual counts). Systems approved before January 1, 2026, expire July 1, 2026, and vendors must cover costs if manual recounts are needed due to outdated equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 1170 requires South Dakota's Department of Public Safety to make the state's organ donation registry accessible online 24/7, allowing registered donors or authorized individuals to verify their status anytime. It directly affects South Dakotans who are organ donors or considering donation, as well as organ procurement organizations and donation agencies that need to access registry information. The bill mandates that the registry must allow online registration, amendment, revocation, and verification of donor status, while ensuring personally identifiable information is protected and only used for determining donation status near death. This change streamlines access to the registry without altering the underlying donation process or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryThis South Dakota House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 6009) urges Congress to repeal the federal estate tax. It directly affects farm and ranch families and generational family businesses, as their assets (like land and equipment) are often hard to sell quickly to pay the tax. The resolution highlights that the tax can force heirs to downsize or sell operations to cover payments, rather than allowing them to maintain family assets. The resolution is a formal request to Congress, not a law, and does not change existing tax policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1068 allows South Dakota pharmacists to dispense ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to adults 18+ based on written protocols created by physicians. These protocols must include risk assessments, drug information (indications, usage, side effects), and instructions for handling adverse events. The law shields physicians and pharmacists from liability for good-faith compliance, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. It directly affects healthcare providers who dispense these drugs and patients receiving them under this new process.

Maddy summaryHB 1127 revises South Dakota's regulations for birth centers and certified professional midwives. It requires birth centers to obtain a license from the Department of Health (with a $500 fee), mandates risk assessments to confirm low-risk pregnancies before admission, and requires written care plans addressing each client's medical and emotional needs. The bill also mandates that a practitioner or registered nurse be on-site during active labor and repeals the previous requirement that birth centers be within 30 minutes of a hospital. These changes directly affect birth centers, certified midwives, and patients seeking care at these facilities.

Maddy summarySB 108 requires South Dakota's Legislative Research Council to post all recorded votes made by each legislator on the Council's website. This includes votes on bills and resolutions in both chambers and committees during each legislative session, along with records of absences or excusals. The voting records must be prominently displayed as a tab on each legislator's online profile page for public access. The bill applies to all legislators starting after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to remove South Dakota's legal requirement to provide expanded Medicaid coverage. It specifically targets Section 10 of Article XXI, which currently mandates that the state provide Medicaid benefits to adults aged 18-65 with incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level. If approved by voters, the amendment would eliminate this constitutional obligation, allowing the state to potentially modify or discontinue the expanded eligibility rules. The change directly affects low-income South Dakota adults who currently qualify under the existing Medicaid expansion.

Maddy summaryHB 1087 prohibits the use of paid petition circulators for initiatives seeking to amend South Dakota's constitution or propose new laws. The bill requires that all petition circulators disclose whether they are volunteers or paid, and if paid, state the exact compensation amount. This disclosure requirement effectively bans paid circulators by making it impossible to circulate petitions without revealing payment details. The bill directly affects petition sponsors and circulators working on constitutional amendment or initiated measure petitions. It amends existing petition filing rules to enforce this prohibition.

Maddy summarySB 66 prohibits South Dakota election officials from using automatic tabulating equipment or electronic ballot marking systems for any election. The bill requires all ballots to be hand-counted manually in public view, replacing electronic processing with paper-based counting. It directly affects county auditors, precinct election boards, and all election administrators responsible for ballot handling and counting. The law mandates that ballots must be printed on paper (not processed electronically), with all vote counts performed manually after polls close, eliminating electronic tabulation entirely.

Maddy summaryHB 1078 requires South Dakota's Board of Education to amend administrative rules by September 2026 to update high school graduation coursework requirements. The bill mandates specific credit counts: 4 units of language arts (including writing, speech, and American literature), 3 social studies units (U.S. history and government), 3 math units (including Algebra I), 3 science units (including biology), plus required courses in personal finance, fine arts, physical education, health, and electives. It allows substitutions for one science credit using approved advanced computer science or agriculture science courses (but not for biology), and permits up to one fine arts credit through extracurricular activities with documented alignment to state standards. This directly affects all South Dakota public high school students and school districts implementing graduation standards.