Rep. Julie Auch

Maddy summaryThis bill requires South Dakota public schools to teach prenatal human growth and development in health or science classes using specific materials. It mandates that schools use resources recommended by the state Board of Education, including at least three minutes of high-definition ultrasound videos showing organ development or computer-generated animations of prenatal growth from fertilization to birth. The law prohibits using any materials from entities that perform, promote, or refer to abortion services. This directly affects K-12 public school curricula in South Dakota, altering required health/science content.

Maddy summarySB 107 amends South Dakota law to explicitly include licensed and registered child care programs within the definition of "community safety zone." This means the 500-foot buffer zone around such facilities - including day care centers, group family day care homes, and registered family day care - will now be covered by the same restrictions on sex offender residence as schools, shelters, and public parks. The bill clarifies that all licensed and registered child care programs are explicitly included under existing definitions without adding new facilities to the list. This change directly affects sex offenders required to register under South Dakota law, as they are barred from residing within these zones without specific exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 1077 classifies cultivated-protein food products (lab-grown meat alternatives made from animal cells grown in vitro) as "adulterated food" under South Dakota's existing food safety laws. This bill directly affects producers and sellers of these products by automatically subjecting them to current adulteration penalties without requiring new safety standards. The key provision adds a specific definition in Section 39-4-2(8), stating such products are deemed adulterated regardless of their safety or labeling. The law does not create new regulations but applies existing food safety definitions to this emerging food category. This change would require cultivated-protein producers to comply with all current adulteration enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 90 requires South Dakota's prescription drug monitoring program to collect a patient's gender in addition to existing information (name, date of birth, address, and registry card number) for each medical marijuana registry cardholder. This change applies specifically to individuals holding a qualifying patient registry identification card under South Dakota law. The bill amends existing statute to mandate that the department submit gender data to the monitoring program for all cardholders, including nonresidents. This update aims to expand the demographic data available in the state's drug monitoring system.

Maddy summaryHB 1265 creates an "Avian Special Purpose Salvage Permit" allowing landowners or farmers to legally salvage, incubate, and release eggs from non-migratory bird nests accidentally destroyed during normal agricultural or lawful activities. The permit, valid annually until December 31, requires a $10 fee and authorizes three specific actions: salvaging eggs, incubating them, and banding/releasing the birds at an appropriate developmental stage. The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission will establish rules for release criteria, documentation, and the permit process. This bill directly affects landowners whose operations unintentionally disturb non-migratory bird nests, providing a legal pathway to salvage eggs instead of facing misdemeanor charges under existing law.

Maddy summarySB 124 bans the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products containing cell-cultured protein in South Dakota from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2036. It directly affects food businesses, restaurants, and retailers selling such products, defining "cell-cultured protein" as any human food product grown from animal cells outside a live animal (excluding fermented foods, pharmaceuticals, and similar non-meat products). Violations are classified as Class 2 misdemeanors, with the state department authorized to inspect food establishments, issue stop-sale orders, and potentially suspend business licenses upon conviction. The law creates a 10-year temporary prohibition without specifying broader regulatory changes beyond this ban.

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 1248 amends South Dakota's Uniform Commercial Code to clarify which state's laws govern securities transactions. The bill specifies that the law of the issuer's organizing state (or a state the issuer designates) applies to matters like security validity and transfer registration. For securities intermediaries (such as banks holding securities), the governing law is determined by agreement terms or the location of the intermediary's office, not physical asset locations. This change reduces legal uncertainty for businesses and individuals involved in multi-state securities transactions within South Dakota.

Maddy summaryThis South Dakota resolution urges federal lawmakers to support the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act (S. 1848/H.R. 3516), which aims to reform the federal beef checkoff program. It highlights concerns about the current program’s lack of transparency, conflicts of interest, and its impact on cattle producers, including declining U.S. cow numbers and increased meatpacking concentration. The resolution specifically calls for reforms requiring producer votes on program decisions, independent audits by USDA, and restrictions on contracts with groups influencing policy. These changes would directly affect cattle producers who pay the mandatory checkoff fee, aiming to make the program more accountable to farmers.