Rep. Eric Emery

Maddy summaryThis House Commemoration (HC 8003) honors Joyce Waddell for her retirement from the Bison School District after 56 years of service as a teacher, counselor, and librarian. It recognizes her total 61 years of dedication to South Dakota education, including teaching multiple generations of students and maintaining deep community connections throughout her career. The resolution is a ceremonial tribute introduced by multiple legislators, with no associated policy changes or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1091 requires political subdivisions (like city councils, school boards, or county commissions) to post corrected versions of meeting agendas, attachments, or financial reports at least 24 hours before a meeting if they contain a material error. A "material error" is defined as any mistake likely to mislead the public about meeting details (date, time, location, subject) or the content of documents. This rule applies to both the physical office location and the subdivision's website, if one exists. Violating this requirement is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a legislative commemoration honoring the Harrisburg Tigers girls' gymnastics team for winning the 2025 Class AA state championship. It recognizes their historic first-place finish, a team score record of 152.983, and individual victories by Katelyn Maeschen, Emery Myron, and Isabelle Reiners. The resolution, introduced by multiple legislators, formally celebrates the team's achievements and their coaches' recognition as Coach of the Year. As a symbolic gesture, it has no policy impact or direct effect on any laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 6003) recognizes conservation and restoration practices - such as native vegetation restoration, stream rehabilitation, and beaver dam analogues - as critical for addressing water shortages and reducing wildfire risks in South Dakota's Black Hills region. It specifically commends organizations like the Black Hills Watershed Collaborative, landowners, and community groups working on these projects. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally acknowledges these efforts' role in improving water availability, fire mitigation, soil health, and ecosystem resilience. It serves as a symbolic statement of legislative support for ongoing community-led conservation work.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill) honoring Madisen Younie as 2025 South Dakota Girls State Governor and Brody Tynan as 2025 South Dakota Boys State Governor. It also recognizes the South Dakota American Legion and Auxiliary for their decades-long sponsorship of the Girls State and Boys State programs, which educate youth about U.S. government through hands-on learning. The resolution formally expresses legislative appreciation for these young leaders and the Legion's long-term coordination of the programs.

Maddy summarySB 1 amends South Dakota's "Employer's Investment in South Dakota's Future Fund" to clarify how funds are distributed for economic development loans and grants. The bill requires the Governor's Office of Economic Development to establish specific rules for applicants, including how economic impact is assessed, selection criteria, interest rate limits (capped at 200 basis points above the federal funds rate), and repayment procedures. It directly affects businesses, researchers, and organizations seeking funding for projects that boost the state's economy. The changes streamline the process for awarding loans/grants while ensuring repayments replenish the fund. The bill updates existing rules under Section 61-5-29.1 without altering the fund's core purpose.

Maddy summaryHB 1090 requires the governor's office to publish notices of appointments or reappointments to state boards, commissions, councils, or other entities in the next regularly scheduled issue of the South Dakota Register. This applies to all positions the governor can appoint under state law, including filling vacancies. The bill mandates this publication as a standard step for transparency, directly affecting the governor's office and the public who access the Register. It does not change appointment powers or create new requirements beyond publication.

Maddy summaryHB 1039 requires all students participating in school sports to undergo a pre-participation physical exam within one year of the season start. The exam must include heart health questions about the student's personal and family history, documented on a state-approved form signed by a licensed healthcare provider. Schools must collect these forms before students can join athletic activities. Additionally, the Department of Health must create and distribute educational materials about sudden cardiac arrest to all school districts and healthcare providers, outlining screening guidelines and symptoms requiring specialist referral. This bill directly affects minors in school sports, their schools, and healthcare practitioners conducting these evaluations.

Maddy summaryHB 1053 requires terminal care facilities (hospitals, inpatient hospice, or residential hospice) to permit terminally ill patients with a medical cannabis card to store and use medical cannabis within the facility. It mandates that patients provide their registry card and a physician's note documenting the need, while prohibiting smoking or vaping on-site. Facilities must establish policies for administration and storage but are not required to procure or administer cannabis. This applies only to patients with a terminal condition (life expectancy under one year) and excludes emergency departments. The bill does not override federal enforcement actions against facilities that comply with federal law.

Maddy summaryThis commemorative resolution (HC 8001) formally recognizes National FFA Week in South Dakota for February 21-28, 2026. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or policies; instead, it serves as a symbolic gesture by the South Dakota Legislature to honor the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization. The resolution cites FFA's role in agricultural education, youth development, and community service across the state. As a non-binding commemoration, it has no legal or financial impact on the state or its residents.