Sen. Michael Rohl

Maddy summarySB 93 prohibits state employees who approve, award, or administer state contracts from working for the organizations that received those contracts after leaving state service. For contracts under $1 million, this creates a one-year waiting period; for contracts over $1 million, it extends to two years. The bill allows exceptions if a governing body authorizes the arrangement through written disclosure and approval, ensuring the arrangement is fair and in the public interest. This applies to employees handling contracts within their official duties, excluding unpaid or per diem roles.

Maddy summarySJR 504 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow South Dakota to authorize mobile and electronic wagering on sporting events. The amendment requires such wagering to be offered only through licensed Deadwood casinos with servers located within Deadwood, and mandates that 90% of tax revenue from these wagers must fund statewide property tax relief or reductions. If approved by voters, this would change the state constitution to permit this new form of betting, which is currently restricted under existing gambling laws. The amendment must be voted on by South Dakota residents at the next general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryThis resolution supports South Dakota's request to Congress for authorization and federal funding of specific rural water projects identified by the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems (SDARWS). It directly affects rural communities across South Dakota relying on four key regional systems: Dakota Mainstem (central/southern), Western Dakota (western), Lewis and Clark (expansion planning), and Water Investment in Northern SD. The resolution urges coordination between local water providers, state agencies, and federal partners to advance these projects through congressional authorization under the Bureau of Reclamation. It does not create new projects but formally requests federal action to enable existing regional water supply solutions addressing documented water quantity and quality needs.

Maddy summarySouth Dakota's Senate Joint Resolution 502 is a state application to the U.S. Congress seeking to trigger a constitutional convention under Article V. It requests Congress call a convention specifically to propose an amendment fixing the U.S. Supreme Court's composition at one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. This resolution does not change the Court's current size (nine justices total) but formally asks Congress to begin the process for a constitutional amendment. The application is a procedural step intended to be part of a broader effort requiring support from two-thirds of state legislatures to proceed.

Maddy summarySJR 501 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit South Dakota legislators to a maximum of 16 consecutive years (equivalent to eight terms) in total service across both the Senate and House of Representatives. This would replace the current limit of eight consecutive years (four terms) in a single chamber. The amendment clarifies that partial terms from appointments (per Article IV, § 3) do not count toward this 16-year limit. Voters would decide on this change at the next general election.

Maddy summaryHB 1034 would increase fees for vehicle decals and license plates mailed directly to owners. Specifically, it raises the fee to $2.50 per decal set and $12 per license plate set when mailed. This change directly affects South Dakota vehicle owners who choose to have their decals or plates sent by mail instead of picking them up in person. The bill amends existing law to implement these higher mailing fees, which apply only to mail-delivered items, not in-person transactions. The policy change is limited to the fee structure for mailed vehicle registration materials.

Maddy summarySB 6 reduces the maximum duration of reemployment benefits for eligible South Dakota workers. The bill amends Section 61-6-8 to shorten the standard benefit period from 26 weeks to a shorter duration (as specified in the amended statute). This directly affects individuals who qualify for state unemployment benefits by limiting how long they can receive payments. The key provision modifies the existing benefit calculation to decrease the total weeks available, without changing the weekly benefit amount. The bill does not address trade readjustment training extensions or base period wage calculations.

Maddy summarySB 4 revises South Dakota's rules for security deposits in rental housing, directly affecting landlords and tenants. It requires landlords to return full deposits within 21 days of lease end or provide a written explanation for withholding, limited to unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, or costs to restore the property. Landlords must also give tenants an itemized accounting of withheld amounts within 45 days of request. Failure to comply results in forfeiting all rights to withhold the deposit and potential $200 punitive damages for bad-faith retention.

Maddy summarySouth Dakota's SB 12 allows qualifying veterans with certain disabilities (like loss of use of both lower extremities) or their unremarried surviving spouses to request refunds for property taxes paid in the previous four years if they missed the application deadline for an existing property tax exemption. The bill amends tax exemption rules to permit petitions to county commissioners for these refunds, which the commissioners may approve or deny at their discretion. It directly affects veterans and surviving spouses who previously paid taxes they might have qualified to avoid. The refund mechanism applies only to taxes paid in the four years prior to the petition, not future exemptions.

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."