Maddy summaryHB 1217 would restrict public education employers in South Dakota, such as school districts and technical colleges, from using taxpayer funds or resources to support labor unions or their activities. The bill specifically prohibits actions like deducting union dues from employee paychecks, sharing employee personal information with unions without consent, using school facilities for union membership drives, or favoring one union over another. It also bans public education employers from contributing public money to unions or providing paid time off for union-related activities. Violations would be subject to penalties, though the exact penalty details are not provided in the bill text. This bill directly affects how public education employers interact with labor organizations and their employees.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 127 limits data center operations to reduce disruptions for nearby residents. It prohibits new data centers within one mile of residential areas (though local governments can set stricter rules) and caps continuous noise at 45 decibels near residential property lines. The bill defines data centers broadly to include cloud services, cryptocurrency mining, and streaming platforms. Violations would be deemed legal nuisances, allowing state attorneys or affected residents to seek court orders to stop the disruptions.
Maddy summaryHB 1312 limits annual increases in the assessed value of owner-occupied single-family homes to an inflation-based index, preventing rapid tax hikes for homeowners. It applies only to homes where the owner lives, not rentals or commercial properties. The bill requires full reassessment at market value when a home is sold (capped at sale price), and allows limited value increases for property improvements or changes in use. Taxing districts must maintain revenue levels from 2025 or earlier, adjusted for inflation, to avoid exceeding mill rate limits.
Maddy summaryHB 1288 modifies South Dakota law to allow counties and first/second-class municipalities with comprehensive plans to create local ordinances governing sand, gravel, and aggregate mining operations, provided they don’t conflict with state law. It prohibits local governments from requiring additional bonds beyond state requirements and mandates that the Board of Minerals and Environment must consider local ordinances when reviewing mining permits. The bill also establishes a 60-day conditional permit process if local permits are delayed, requiring applicants to notify the Board once local permits are secured before operations begin. These changes amend Sections 45-6-65 and 45-6B-4 of the state code.
Maddy summaryHB 1171 requires blood donation centers in South Dakota to ask donors if they've received a COVID-19 or mRNA vaccination and to label blood bags if they have. It prohibits disclosing the donor's personal information on the label. Patients needing non-emergency blood transfusions can request blood from donors with or without these vaccinations, and healthcare providers must provide that blood if available. The law directly affects blood donors, donation centers, and patients receiving transfusions, creating new disclosure and request mechanisms while banning discrimination based on vaccination status.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 97 adjusts property tax revenue limits for South Dakota taxing districts and school districts. For school districts, it changes the annual revenue increase cap from "lesser of 3% or index factor" to a flat 3% over the prior year's revenue, effective 2021. For general taxing districts, it adds a specific 3.5% cap on revenue increases above normal limits for taxes payable in 2027-2031. The bill also clarifies that property improvements to owner-occupied homes increasing value by 40% or less do not count toward the revenue limit. These changes directly affect local governments and school districts managing property tax revenue.
Maddy summaryHB 1064 allows South Dakota livestock producers to sell meat they raised and processed directly to end consumers in the state, pending federal legalization of such sales. The bill requires meat to be raised, slaughtered, and processed entirely within South Dakota, sold only to final consumers (not resold), and labeled with a warning that it’s uninspected and cannot be redistributed. It becomes effective only after the attorney general certifies that federal law permits such sales, either through new federal legislation or a court ruling declaring the current federal prohibition unconstitutional. This bill does not change current federal restrictions but prepares South Dakota for future direct-to-consumer sales once federal barriers are lifted.
Maddy summaryHB 1211 creates a digital registry identification card for medical cannabis patients in South Dakota, replacing the current physical card. This digital card will be issued to qualifying patients and their designated caregivers who have received certification from a healthcare provider for a qualifying medical condition. The bill amends existing law to define "Cardholder" as someone possessing a valid digital registry card, which will be used to verify eligibility for medical cannabis use under state law. The change modernizes the verification process but does not alter the qualifying medical conditions or possession limits for patients.
Maddy summaryHB 1121 expands where South Dakota consumers can legally purchase raw milk for personal use. It adds a new allowed location: retail stores owned by the milk producer, provided these stores are not located at the farm where the milk is produced. Currently, raw milk could only be bought directly at the farm, at farmers markets, or at a producer-owned store located on the farm. The bill specifically allows producer-owned retail stores (not at the farm) to sell raw milk directly to consumers.
Maddy summaryHB 1321 requires county treasurers to calculate excise tax on used vehicles sold by private individuals (not licensed dealers) using the amount listed on the bill of sale, rather than the vehicle's retail value from a dealer guide. It directly affects private sellers and buyers of used vehicles, as well as county tax offices responsible for collecting the tax. The bill mandates that both parties submit a bill of sale to the treasurer; if missing, tax is assessed based on the dealer guide value. This change replaces the previous default method for private sales, ensuring tax is calculated from the actual transaction amount documented on the bill of sale.