Sen. MyKala Voita

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts victims of human trafficking or domestic abuse from specific clemency notice requirements when applying for clemency. It directly affects individuals in these victim categories who are seeking clemency by removing a requirement to receive certain notices. To qualify, applicants must submit their own affidavit confirming victim status (citing specific statutes) plus affidavits from two professionals (e.g., law enforcement, mental health providers, or victim advocates) who verify the claim. The professionals must represent different agencies to ensure independent verification.

Maddy summarySB 15 creates the Developmental Disability Services Oversight Committee to examine and monitor South Dakota's Medicaid waiver programs providing home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The committee, composed of nine legislative members including committee chairs and appointed representatives, will review program operations, hear testimony from the Department of Human Services, and gather feedback from affected individuals, families, and service providers. It must annually report findings and recommendations to the Legislative Research Council by November 1 to improve service efficiency and operations. This bill directly affects individuals receiving waiver services, their families, community support providers, and the Department of Human Services. The committee's role is strictly advisory and oversight-focused, not policy-making.

Maddy summarySB 159 raises South Dakota's minimum marriage age to 18, eliminating the previous exception allowing 16- to 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent. It requires court approval for any minor under 18 to marry, mandating an in-person hearing where the court assesses the minor's safety, maturity, and whether the marriage is voluntary, with written findings required. Alternatively, two parents' notarized consent (instead of one parent's) may be submitted, but the marriage license cannot be issued until 30 days after judicial approval. The bill also increases penalties for officiants who solemnize marriages without proper consent, classifying violations as a Class 1 misdemeanor. This directly affects minors aged 16-17 seeking marriage, their parents/guardians, and marriage officiants.

Maddy summaryHB 1077 classifies cultivated-protein food products (lab-grown meat alternatives made from animal cells grown in vitro) as "adulterated food" under South Dakota's existing food safety laws. This bill directly affects producers and sellers of these products by automatically subjecting them to current adulteration penalties without requiring new safety standards. The key provision adds a specific definition in Section 39-4-2(8), stating such products are deemed adulterated regardless of their safety or labeling. The law does not create new regulations but applies existing food safety definitions to this emerging food category. This change would require cultivated-protein producers to comply with all current adulteration enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 1184 defines "female" in South Dakota law as "an individual who naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but for a congenital anomaly or intentional or unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that produces, transports, and utilizes eggs for fertilization." This definition applies to all state laws, regulations, and programs. The bill prohibits state funding for any program, service, or policy that contradicts this definition of "female." It directly affects state agencies, healthcare providers, schools, and any entity receiving state funds that use gender-related terms.

Maddy summarySB 135 requires data center operators to pay all electricity costs associated with their facilities, preventing utilities from raising residential rates to cover these expenses (Section 3). It also prohibits tax exemptions for data centers (Section 5) and ensures local governments retain authority to regulate data center development (Section 4). The bill mandates data centers to report projected water usage to local providers and the Board of Water Management before operation, with annual reports on actual consumption (Sections 6-7), ensuring water allocation prioritizes residential and essential services. This directly affects data center operators, utilities, and South Dakota residents by limiting cost-shifting and protecting local resource management.

Maddy summarySB 142 amends South Dakota's campaign finance disclosure rules, affecting political committees (including candidates, parties, and committees) that must file financial reports. It standardizes filing deadlines: most entities must submit pre-primary, pre-general, and year-end reports in even-numbered years, with year-end reports annually in odd years. The bill adds requirements for termination reports if a party loses qualified status or a committee ceases activity, and specifies Class 2 misdemeanor penalties for violations. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 3 limits local governments in South Dakota from requiring building permits for specific minor residential repairs and renovations on owner-occupied homes. It prohibits counties, municipalities, and townships from mandating permits for exterior repairs like replacing doors, windows, siding, gutters, or roof shingles, as well as interior work that doesn’t affect structural elements like foundations, load-bearing walls, or major utility systems. The bill directly affects homeowners performing these routine maintenance tasks without needing local permit approval. This is a procedural change focused on reducing bureaucratic hurdles for small-scale home improvements.

Maddy summarySB 228 modifies South Dakota's rules for creating tax increment financing (TIF) districts, which are areas where property tax growth funds redevelopment projects. It updates the requirement that at least 50% of a district's area must be blighted or serve economic development goals (replacing a confusing "25 fifty percent" phrasing), and adds new consent rules: counties need municipal approval to create TIF districts within cities, and municipalities need county approval for districts within counties. These changes directly affect local governments (counties and municipalities) seeking to establish TIF districts for redevelopment. The bill focuses on clarifying eligibility criteria and intergovernmental coordination, not on funding amounts or project specifics.

Maddy summarySB 88 clarifies the process for entities seeking to examine private property for public projects (like utility lines) without the owner's permission. It requires such entities to provide 30 days' written notice detailing the property area, timing, and purpose, and pay for any damage caused - $500 upfront for common carrier projects. Property owners can challenge the examination in court within 30 days of receiving notice. The bill applies only to projects needing a siting permit (e.g., utilities), not state entities, and defines "examination" as a minimally invasive inspection causing minor soil disturbance.