Rep. Karla Lems

Maddy summaryThis bill is a legislative commemoration that formally recognizes the achievements of the 2025-2026 Canton C-Hawk girls wrestling team. It highlights their success in winning the Region 2 regional tournament for the second consecutive year and notes that thirteen team members qualified for the state tournament. The resolution specifically acknowledges two state championship wins by Brooke Warejcka and Finley Evjen, along with the contributions of the coaching staff. This type of bill serves as an official record of the team's accomplishments rather than creating new laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit South Dakota governments from using eminent domain to transfer private property to private companies or non-governmental entities solely for economic development or increased tax revenue. It would require any property transfer to serve a clear public purpose, such as infrastructure or public services, rather than benefiting private interests. The amendment would apply to all state and local government actions involving property takings and must be approved by voters at the next general election. If adopted, it would change how governments can acquire property for development projects.

Maddy summarySB 91 clarifies the process for citizens to request changes to a county's comprehensive plan or zoning ordinances by setting specific deadlines. It requires county commissioners to hold a public hearing within 45 days of receiving a petition, and mandates the county planning commission to review the request and provide a recommendation within 45 days of the petition's submission. This bill directly affects residents, property owners, and local government officials by streamlining the petition process and ensuring timely responses. The key mechanism adds clear timeframes to existing procedures, reducing delays in reviewing land-use change requests. The bill focuses solely on procedural timing, not on the substance of zoning decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1230 modifies the requirements for South Dakota employers to pay an "investment in South Dakota's future fee" (a separate charge from unemployment insurance contributions). It establishes a new opt-in/opt-out system: employers can choose not to pay the fee by submitting a simple form (fitting on one page), and those who opt out face no penalties. Employers who opt in pay a fee rate based on their unemployment fund balance (ranging from 0.00% to 0.53%), with rates adjusted annually according to specific schedule tables. The fee proceeds go to a dedicated fund, not the main unemployment trust, and employers cannot deduct the fee from employee wages.

Maddy summaryHB 1224 prohibits South Dakota financial institutions from denying or restricting banking services (like checking accounts, loans, or credit cards) based on a person's religious exercise, free speech, or lawful economic activity. It requires institutions to provide a specific, written explanation within 30 days if they take an adverse action, detailing whether protected activities influenced the decision - replacing vague reasons like "internal policies." The bill bans agreements to discriminate and makes violations a deceptive trade practice under existing state law. It applies to large institutions processing over $100 billion in annual transactions, with exceptions for legitimate business reasons like account defaults or legal compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 1222 prohibits members of South Dakota's Board of Economic Development from holding any financial interest (such as ownership or board membership) in entities that receive funding, grants, or public money approved by the Board. This directly affects Board members and businesses or organizations seeking economic development funds. The key provision bans conflicts of interest by ensuring Board members cannot benefit financially from the organizations they help fund. The bill aims to prevent self-dealing in economic development funding decisions.

Maddy summarySB 195 repeals the scheduled expiration of reduced gross receipts and use tax rates established in 2023. It prevents these tax rate reductions from reverting to prior rates after June 30, 2027. The bill directly affects businesses in South Dakota that pay these specific taxes, ensuring the lower rates remain in effect without requiring new legislation. This is a procedural change to maintain existing tax policy, not a new tax rate adjustment.

Maddy summaryHB 1064 allows South Dakota livestock producers to sell meat they raised and processed directly to end consumers in the state, pending federal legalization of such sales. The bill requires meat to be raised, slaughtered, and processed entirely within South Dakota, sold only to final consumers (not resold), and labeled with a warning that it’s uninspected and cannot be redistributed. It becomes effective only after the attorney general certifies that federal law permits such sales, either through new federal legislation or a court ruling declaring the current federal prohibition unconstitutional. This bill does not change current federal restrictions but prepares South Dakota for future direct-to-consumer sales once federal barriers are lifted.

Maddy summaryHB 1121 expands where South Dakota consumers can legally purchase raw milk for personal use. It adds a new allowed location: retail stores owned by the milk producer, provided these stores are not located at the farm where the milk is produced. Currently, raw milk could only be bought directly at the farm, at farmers markets, or at a producer-owned store located on the farm. The bill specifically allows producer-owned retail stores (not at the farm) to sell raw milk directly to consumers.

Maddy summaryHB 1221 prohibits employees of South Dakota's Governor's Office of Economic Development from working for, or accepting compensation from, any entity that received financial assistance from the office during their employment. Specifically, former employees cannot work for 5 years with any recipient of grants, loans, or funds administered by the office, or with entities that received money from the "Investment in South Dakota's Future Fund." Violating this restriction is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill directly affects current and former employees of the Governor's Office of Economic Development and the organizations that received state financial support through that office.