Rep. Phil Jensen

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the South Dakota Department of Education from sending state education funding to the Huron School District. By blocking these financial transfers, the legislation effectively cuts off state aid to that specific school district. The measure directly impacts the Huron School District by preventing it from receiving allocated state funds for the 2025 legislative session.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the state of South Dakota from engaging with "natural asset companies," which are defined as entities holding rights to manage or restore ecological resources like soil, water, and biodiversity. It bans state agencies from leasing public land to these companies, investing state money in them, or entering into any business agreements that would grant them an interest in state resources. Additionally, the bill prevents natural assets from being transferred to such companies and requires the Secretary of State to revoke or deny business licenses for any entity that operates as a natural asset company. The law explicitly excludes nonprofits, privately held farms, and companies providing physical ecosystem services from these restrictions.

Maddy summarySB 105 proposes to designate Election Day as a legal holiday in South Dakota, meaning state and local government offices would close and employees would be exempt from work requirements on that day. The bill directly affects government workers, businesses, and the general public by establishing Election Day as a recognized day off similar to other state holidays. Under this measure, businesses could choose to close or remain open, but government facilities would be required to shut down for the day. This change aims to facilitate higher voter turnout by reducing barriers to voting on Election Day. The legislation focuses solely on the procedural status of Election Day without addressing specific voting procedures or election administration details.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes that South Dakota apply to the U.S. Congress for a constitutional convention to propose amendments focused on limiting federal government power. The requested amendments would impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, further restrict its jurisdiction, and limit the terms of office for members of Congress and other federal officials. If approved by enough states, this application could lead to a constitutional convention where proposed changes would need to be ratified by three-fourths of the states to become part of the Constitution. The bill directly affects South Dakota's role in the federal constitutional amendment process.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of voter centers in any county within South Dakota. It directly affects local election officials and voters who might have relied on these alternative voting locations. The key provision is a blanket ban on establishing or operating voter centers, requiring all voting to occur at traditional polling places instead. This change removes a flexible option for counties to accommodate voters who face challenges traveling to specific polling locations. The legislation does not specify alternative arrangements, leaving counties to manage voting access under the new restrictions.

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 summarySB 112 establishes a formal process for parents in South Dakota to submit concerns about their children's education to public schools. The bill requires schools to review these parental concerns and work toward resolving them through a structured procedure. This legislation directly affects parents, school administrators, and public school systems by creating a standardized way to address educational disagreements. The process aims to facilitate communication and problem-solving between families and schools without requiring immediate escalation to higher authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 1017 requires schools in South Dakota to accept cash payments for admission to school-affiliated events. This provision directly affects school districts, event organizers, and families attending these events by mandating that cash be treated as a valid form of payment. The bill ensures that individuals cannot be denied entry to school events solely because they pay with cash rather than other payment methods. This change applies to all school-sponsored activities where admission fees are charged.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires an official declaration of war or other specific Congressional action before the South Dakota National Guard can be deployed by the federal government. It directly affects the state's National Guard units by establishing a legal barrier to federal mobilization without explicit legislative approval. The key provision mandates that federal authorities must obtain formal authorization from Congress before deploying state troops for federal purposes. This measure ensures that the state retains control over its National Guard unless Congress explicitly authorizes federal deployment. The bill focuses on clarifying the legal requirements for National Guard deployment rather than addressing broader military policy issues.

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.