Rep. Will Mortenson

Maddy summaryHB 1264 eliminates the Agricultural Land Assessment Implementation and Oversight Advisory Task Force, which previously reviewed recommendations about agricultural land valuation methods. Instead, the Department of Revenue will directly receive recommendations from entities like South Dakota State University and provide an annual report to the legislature's Taxation Committees. The bill does not change the existing valuation process, which uses eight years of crop and livestock data (discarding the highest and lowest years and averaging the remaining six) to determine agricultural land values. This affects the Department of Revenue and entities submitting recommendations, but leaves assessment methods unchanged.

Maddy summarySB 231 creates a Water Infrastructure Development Fund to support rural water projects in South Dakota. The fund, initially seeded with $3 million from the state general fund (Section 2), provides grants (up to 10% of project costs) and loans (up to 50% of project costs) managed by the Board of Water and Natural Resources (Section 1). It directly affects rural communities needing upgrades to water infrastructure, such as new systems or repairs. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon passage (Section 3).

Maddy summaryHB 1215 allows South Dakota counties and municipalities to issue licenses for cigar bars, directly affecting business owners seeking to operate such establishments and local governments responsible for licensing. The bill requires cigar bars to have a humidor, be fully enclosed with proper ventilation, generate at least 10% of income from cigar sales, and prohibit all tobacco products except cigars. Local governments must hold public hearings for applications and report annual cigar sales income to the Department of Revenue, while also posting clear smoking restrictions. The law explicitly excludes these venues from other liquor license limits and prohibits transferring licenses to new owners.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a taskforce to study how South Dakota could establish Medicaid managed care entities specifically serving tribal communities, as defined under federal law. The taskforce includes representatives from all federally recognized South Dakota tribes, state health and social services agencies, healthcare providers, insurance companies, and tribal relations officials. It must gather input from stakeholders and submit findings and potential legislation to the Governor by December 2028. The bill does not implement new programs but sets a process for evaluating this option.

Maddy summaryHB 1180 allows business owners in jointly owned entities to include enforceable non-compete restrictions when transferring ownership interests. The bill permits agreements that prevent a selling owner from competing in the same business within the entity's specific geographic area for up to three years after the transfer. This applies specifically to terms included in ownership transfer contracts or business governing documents, not general employment agreements. The law directly affects business owners selling stakes in jointly held companies and the buyers purchasing those interests.

Maddy summarySB 36 requires electric utilities and wholesale electricity generators in South Dakota to develop and submit wildfire mitigation plans to either the Public Utilities Commission or their local governing body (like a city council). These plans must include specific strategies for risk assessment, infrastructure inspections, vegetation management, and community outreach to reduce wildfire risks. Utilities must also submit annual compliance reports by April 1st each year, with filing fees of $500 for initial plans and $250 for reports. The bill establishes a standardized process for these plans and reports but does not specify liability protections beyond the plan requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1160 repeals the legal requirement for a medical marijuana oversight committee in South Dakota. The bill ends a committee that was mandated to meet twice yearly to evaluate the medical cannabis program, including patient access, dispensary operations, testing facilities, and regulatory safeguards. This change removes the committee's structure and duties, which included making recommendations to the legislature about the program's effectiveness and regulations. The repeal applies to the medical cannabis program established under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it illegal to intentionally claim a pet as a service animal in public places to gain access or privileges, such as entering businesses or venues. It specifically defines "service animal" as a dog trained for disability-related tasks (excluding emotional support or comfort), per federal guidelines. Violating this law is a Class 2 misdemeanor, directly affecting individuals who falsely represent pets and businesses that may be misled by such claims. The law aims to protect genuine service animal users and prevent misuse of public accommodations.

Maddy summaryHB 1007 amends South Dakota's legal definition of "law enforcement officer" to explicitly include tribal law enforcement officers. This change directly affects tribal law enforcement personnel by ensuring they are recognized under the same legal definitions as state and local officers. The bill modifies Section 22-1-2 of state law to add tribal officers to the definition, aligning their status with other law enforcement roles. This is a technical definitional update with no new requirements or funding impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 1279 permits technical college employees in South Dakota to join the state health plan, directly affecting permanent staff working 20+ hours weekly at least six months yearly. The bill requires the technical college’s local education agency (LEA) to pay equivalent monthly contributions instead of the state, and removes previous restrictions preventing these employees from enrolling. Key provisions include defining "technical college employee" and ensuring LEAs cover the same cost as the state does for other plan-eligible employees. The law takes effect July 1, 2027, and applies only to technical college staff, not other state workers.