Rep. Terri Jorgenson

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 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 1273 revises definitions and clarifies rules for "life of the mine permits" in South Dakota's mining law. It specifically defines how mining operators can temporarily pause operations (up to 180 days with notice) and extend pauses up to 10 years total, provided they submit plans for resuming work and maintain reclamation measures. This affects mining companies operating under these permits and the Board of Minerals and Environment, which oversees the process. The bill focuses on procedural clarity for permit management without introducing new environmental or financial requirements.

Maddy summarySB 2 amends South Dakota law to clarify that firearm silencers (devices reducing gunshot noise) are not classified as "controlled weapons." This change removes silencers from the category of weapons subject to strict state regulations, such as special permits or licensing requirements. The bill directly affects gun owners, manufacturers, and sellers of silencers in South Dakota by eliminating these regulatory barriers. The key mechanism is an amendment to the definitions section of the state's criminal code (§ 22-1-2), specifically excluding silencers from the definition of "controlled weapon."

Maddy summaryHB 1304 (South Dakota House Bill 1304) allows cities, counties, and other local subdivisions to create reasonable rules restricting drone flights at specific large outdoor events. It directly affects event organizers and attendees at parades, festivals, state/county fairs, air shows, sporting events, and similar gatherings drawing crowds. The bill authorizes local governments to implement these restrictions to protect privacy and prevent trespass, as outlined in the new provisions added to South Dakota law. The key mechanism is granting subdivisions authority to enact such rules through ordinances or resolutions, without requiring state-level approval.

Maddy summaryThis South Dakota House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 6009) urges Congress to repeal the federal estate tax. It directly affects farm and ranch families and generational family businesses, as their assets (like land and equipment) are often hard to sell quickly to pay the tax. The resolution highlights that the tax can force heirs to downsize or sell operations to cover payments, rather than allowing them to maintain family assets. The resolution is a formal request to Congress, not a law, and does not change existing tax policy.

Maddy summarySB 84 increases the income threshold for students to qualify for South Dakota's Partners in Education scholarship program. It raises the initial income requirement from 152% to a higher percentage of the national free/reduced-price lunch income standard (currently 152% for initial eligibility), directly affecting low-income students seeking tuition assistance at participating nonpublic schools. The bill maintains that students who qualify initially remain eligible for three years or until high school graduation without income checks, but must later meet a 250% income threshold to renew. This change expands access to the scholarship program by allowing more households to qualify under the new higher income cap.

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 1186 requires South Dakota municipalities to obtain written approval from county commissioners before creating a tax increment financing district. This directly affects municipalities seeking to establish such districts and the counties where those districts would be located. The key provision mandates that county boards of commissioners must approve the district's creation through a formal resolution, either for the entire county or the portion within the county. The bill changes the process by adding county consent as a mandatory step, ensuring local county input before municipal tax district development begins.