Sen. Liz Larson

Maddy summarySB 172 is a procedural bill that declares the Legislature's intent to "enhance the economy of South Dakota" but contains no specific provisions, mechanisms, or policy changes. It does not identify affected groups, outline funding sources, or describe implementation steps. The bill consists solely of a single-sentence declaration with no concrete measures. As such, it serves only as a general statement without actionable policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1225 is a procedural resolution with no concrete policy provisions. It merely states in Section 1: "The Legislature shall enhance the future of education in South Dakota," without specifying any mechanisms, funding, programs, or affected parties. The bill contains no actionable requirements or changes to existing law. As a non-substantive resolution, it does not implement any tangible education policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1205 amends South Dakota's formula for calculating state aid to school districts for general and special education funding. It updates key definitions, including how "fall enrollment" is calculated (subtracting certain tuition-receiving students and adding those for whom the district pays tuition) and revises the target teacher ratio factor based on district size. The bill also establishes a new method for calculating target teacher compensation, linking it to the consumer price index and requiring annual adjustments. This directly affects all South Dakota public school districts receiving state education funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1281 reduces sales and use tax rates on non-prepared food (like groceries) for consumers while increasing tax rates on other items, including certain excise taxes and use taxes. The bill establishes a new fund specifically for school district capital projects, such as building construction or major equipment purchases. It defines "food" to exclude prepared meals (e.g., restaurant takeout), alcohol, tobacco, and candy, ensuring the tax cut applies only to basic grocery items. The policy shifts tax burden from grocery shoppers to other taxable goods and services to finance school infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 150 would amend South Dakota law to allow debtors who are heads of households to exempt one motor vehicle from being seized by creditors. The vehicle must be valued at $5,000 or less after accounting for any existing loan or security interest. This change modifies existing exemption rules (§ 43-45-4), adding the vehicle as a specific exempt asset alongside other personal property limits. The bill directly affects South Dakota residents facing debt collection who qualify as heads of families, providing a concrete safeguard for their primary transportation.

Maddy summaryHB 1268 would repeal South Dakota's death penalty by removing it as a sentencing option for Class A felonies, including first-degree murder. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of capital offenses, replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment as the maximum sentence. Key provisions amend sections of the criminal code (specifically §§ 22-6-1, 22-16-12, and others) to eliminate the death penalty from Class A felony sentencing and adjust felony classifications accordingly. This change would apply to all future cases, meaning convicted individuals would no longer face execution as a possible penalty for the most serious crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 1301 requires large data centers (those with 20+ megawatts peak demand) in South Dakota to pay the full cost of electricity infrastructure upgrades they necessitate, including decommissioning expenses, and prohibits shifting these costs to other utility customers. Key provisions include mandating that data centers submit annual reports detailing their energy use, infrastructure needs, and renewable energy commitments, and requiring electric utilities to publish annual reports on large data center load forecasts and associated costs. The bill effectively imposes a moratorium on new large data center projects until these reporting and cost-sharing requirements are met. It directly affects large data center operators and electric utilities, ensuring they bear their own infrastructure and decommissioning costs without burdening other retail customers.

Maddy summarySB 209 authorizes local governments in South Dakota (like counties or municipalities) to create nonprofit "land banks" to address abandoned, blighted, or vacant properties. These land banks, established through a local ordinance, can acquire, manage, and develop such properties to return them to productive use - such as through redevelopment, sale, or lease. Key mechanisms include allowing land banks to sue, borrow funds, handle foreclosures, collect rent, and partner with other entities. The bill provides a clear legal framework for creating these entities but does not mandate their use or specify which properties qualify beyond the defined categories.

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 summarySB 146 clarifies the rules when a gubernatorial appointee resigns from a board or commission requiring Senate confirmation. It states that the resigning appointee must continue serving until one of three events occurs: the Governor appoints a replacement with Senate consent, an interim appointment is made (requiring Senate action), or the resigning person sets an earlier departure date in writing. This applies specifically to boards/commissions whose members are appointed by the Governor with Senate consent, not to those exempted by law. The bill does not change who can be appointed but ensures continuity until a new appointment is finalized.