Rep. Travis Ismay

Maddy summarySB 112 would recognize physical gold and silver coins (specie) as legal tender in South Dakota starting July 1, 2027. It allows private parties to use gold/silver for mutual debt payments and state/local governments to accept them for taxes/fees if they agree, though no one must accept them except by mutual agreement or through authorized electronic payment systems. The bill establishes definitions for "bullion depository" (secure storage for gold/silver) and "electronic payment system" (digital platforms backed by physical bullion), requiring the state treasurer to set rules for these systems. It directly affects residents, businesses, and government entities by adding gold/silver as an optional payment method under specific conditions. The state treasurer would designate storage facilities and authorize payment systems to enable transactions using physical gold/silver.

Maddy summaryHB 1239 requires South Dakota's Department of Education to pay the full salary and benefits for all teachers employed by public school districts, replacing the previous system where districts covered these costs. The bill establishes a state-mandated salary schedule that must include increases based on a teacher's certification demand, highest degree, and years of experience, with benefits set at a minimum of 29% of salary. It also limits school districts from exceeding a target teacher ratio factor (calculated by enrollment size) without state approval. This directly affects all South Dakota public school districts and their teaching staff by shifting funding responsibility to the state.

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 summaryHB 1212 repeals a provision that previously shielded women from criminal liability for unlawful abortions. It removes the exception that prevented homicide charges when an abortion caused an unborn child's death, making such cases subject to standard homicide laws (Class B felony). The bill directly affects women seeking abortions and medical providers performing them, as it eliminates prior legal protections for abortion-related deaths. Exceptions for lifesaving procedures to preserve the mother's life or spontaneous miscarriages remain unchanged.

Maddy summaryHB 1125 establishes a 15-member taskforce to study how artificial intelligence systems affect South Dakota, directly involving state government, industries (healthcare, banking, retail, manufacturing, tech), education (teachers/administrators), local governments (county auditors, municipalities), and the judiciary. The taskforce, appointed by legislative leaders, the governor, the Supreme Court chief justice, and the Board of Regents, must report findings and recommendations - including potential legislation - to the Legislative Research Council by December 1, 2028. The bill does not enact new laws but mandates a study of AI's impacts, dissolving the taskforce after its report. This procedural bill focuses on gathering data to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1094 (South Dakota House Bill 1094) clarifies that consent for organ donation does not automatically cover the donation of ovum (eggs) or sperm. The bill requires individuals to give explicit, separate consent specifically for ovum or sperm donation - distinct from organ donation consent. This directly affects potential donors and medical facilities handling reproductive tissue donations. The key provision amends state law to ensure clear, affirmative permission is obtained for gamete donation before any retrieval occurs.

Maddy summaryHB 1100 revises how South Dakota's livestock disease emergency fund is managed. It specifies that the fund - funded by 10% of livestock auction fees - can only be used for disease control during a Governor-declared emergency, directly affecting livestock producers and the Animal Industry Board. The bill repeals a previous provision allowing excess funds ($200,000+) to support out-of-state veterinary school grants, restricting all fund use to emergency disease response. Key changes include clarifying the Governor's authority to authorize fund spending and requiring annual appropriations for expenditures. This eliminates non-emergency uses of the fund while maintaining its core purpose for livestock health emergencies.

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 1057 prohibits the sale, distribution, and manufacture of any food product containing "cell-cultured protein" in South Dakota from July 2026 through June 2036. The bill defines cell-cultured protein as meat-like products made from animal cells grown outside a live animal, excluding items like fermented foods or pharmaceuticals. Violations are classified as Class 2 misdemeanors, and state inspectors can issue stop-sale orders for noncompliant food businesses. Businesses found violating the law may face license suspension or revocation for food service establishments.