Rep. Kathy Rice

Maddy summarySB 161 proposes to set a maximum salary limit for school administrators in South Dakota. The bill directly affects school districts and the administrators who work within them by capping their compensation. It establishes a specific dollar amount or formula that determines the highest salary an administrator can earn, preventing pay from exceeding that threshold. This measure aims to control education spending by ensuring administrator salaries remain within a defined range.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the transfer of state funds and provides an appropriation for the operations of the South Dakota State Library. It directly affects the state library by ensuring it has the necessary financial resources to continue its functions. The key mechanism involves moving specific moneys from one state account to another and allocating additional funds for library operations. This legislative action supports the library's ability to serve the public without changing its core mission or services.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of drones to assess real property for taxation purposes in South Dakota. It directly affects local tax assessors, property owners, and drone operators who might otherwise use aerial technology for property valuation. The legislation establishes penalties for anyone who violates this ban, ensuring that property assessments continue to rely on traditional methods rather than unmanned aerial vehicles. By restricting drone usage in this specific context, the bill aims to maintain established assessment procedures while preventing unauthorized aerial surveillance for tax evaluation.

Maddy summaryHB 1104 proposes changes to the requirements for paper ballots in South Dakota elections. The bill directly affects election officials and voters by modifying how ballots must be printed, handled, or recorded. Specific provisions likely include adjustments to ballot design, distribution methods, or verification processes to ensure accuracy and accessibility. This legislation aims to update existing election procedures without altering the fundamental right to vote.

Maddy summaryThis bill expresses the South Dakota state government's opposition to carbon dioxide pipelines and urges President Trump not to use federal eminent domain powers to interfere with the Summit Carbon Solutions project. It directly affects state officials and federal authorities by formally recording the legislature's stance on the pipeline issue. The key provision is a declarative statement affirming the state's rejection of such infrastructure while calling for federal restraint in this specific case. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal position statement on an ongoing environmental and regulatory matter.

Maddy summaryHB 1070 prohibits insurance companies in South Dakota from requiring patients to pay any portion of the cost for specific breast imaging tests, including diagnostic and supplemental examinations. This law directly affects individuals with health insurance in the state by ensuring these breast imaging services are covered at no out-of-pocket expense to the patient. The bill removes cost-sharing requirements such as copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance that would otherwise apply to these particular medical procedures. By eliminating these financial barriers, the legislation aims to improve access to breast imaging services for insured residents without changing the underlying insurance coverage structure.

Maddy summaryHB 1078 establishes rules for how individuals can disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status when donating blood. The bill requires blood collection facilities to inform donors about their vaccination status and allows donors to choose whether to share this information with the facility. It also mandates that blood banks maintain records of vaccination status for donors who choose to disclose it. This legislation directly affects blood donation centers and individuals who wish to donate blood in South Dakota.

Maddy summaryHB 1087 would allow voters in South Dakota counties to remove county commissioners from office through a recall election. The bill establishes a process where a petition signed by a specified percentage of registered voters can trigger a special election to decide whether a commissioner should be removed. If the recall election is held and the majority of voters approve it, the commissioner would be removed from their position. This legislation directly affects county commissioners and the voters within South Dakota counties who would participate in the recall process.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a program in South Dakota that allows parents to open and use educational empowerment accounts for their children's schooling. The accounts would be funded through state tax dollars and could be used to pay for private school tuition, tutoring, or other educational services. The legislation also includes penalties for individuals who misuse the funds or fail to comply with the program's requirements. This policy change directly affects South Dakota families seeking alternative educational options for their children.