Maddy summaryHB 1316 changes the timing for conducting election canvasses in South Dakota. It revises Section 12-20-36 to require county election officials to complete canvassing at 9 a.m. local time on the first Tuesday after an election, instead of within six calendar days. Section 12-20-47 is amended to require the State Canvassing Board to begin reviewing county returns at 9 a.m. central time on the second Tuesday after an election, replacing the previous seven-day deadline. This procedural bill affects election administrators and county officials responsible for processing election results, with no direct impact on voters or policy outcomes.
Sponsored bills
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 summarySB 162 revises the factors South Dakota courts must consider when deciding to deviate from the standard child support amount. It adds seven specific criteria, including financial hardship (presumed if support exceeds 50% of a parent's net income), special needs of the child, agreements for extra support, and federal tax consequences of claiming the child. The bill does not create new requirements but updates existing law to clarify when courts may adjust payments beyond the standard schedule. This directly affects parents and courts handling child support cases in South Dakota.
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 1315 would allow South Dakota voters to initiate a recall of local elected officials or individuals appointed to fill vacancies in their offices. To trigger a recall, a petition requiring signatures from 15% of registered voters in the official's jurisdiction (based on the prior general election) must be filed, along with specific grounds for removal such as crime, incompetence, or misconduct. If the petition meets requirements, a special election must be held within 60 days to decide removal, with the official allowed to remain on the ballot unless they request otherwise. The bill does not apply to officials subject to impeachment under the state constitution.
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.
Maddy summaryHB 1294 prohibits any person from conducting geoengineering within South Dakota. The bill defines geoengineering as large-scale climate interventions, specifically including carbon dioxide removal or reflecting sunlight away from Earth. Violating this prohibition is classified as a Class 6 felony. This law directly affects individuals or entities attempting these specific climate interventions within the state. The bill establishes a clear criminal penalty for such actions, focusing on preventing large-scale atmospheric or oceanic climate modification.
Maddy summarySB 92 clarifies the process for appealing or referring decisions made by county commissioners regarding land use or zoning changes. It directly affects county commissioners, residents, and petitioners who challenge or seek to refer such decisions. Key provisions require commissioners to publish adoption notices in a legal newspaper, with decisions taking effect 20 days later unless a referendum is triggered. The bill also specifies that rejection of requests follows separate procedures under existing law. This is a procedural clarification with no new policy changes.