Maddy summarySB 218 establishes a legal framework for charter schools in South Dakota. It defines charter schools as public schools operating under contracts with school districts or the state education department, granting them exemptions from most state education laws while requiring compliance with civil rights, health/safety rules, and standardized testing. The bill mandates annual performance reporting to the state, outlines application requirements for nonprofit organizers (including community support and financial plans), and specifies that charter schools must serve grades K-12 nonsectarianly without religious instruction. This directly affects school districts (as authorizing entities), nonprofit organizers seeking to open charter schools, and students enrolled in these schools.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 109 modifies South Dakota's rules for creating tax increment financing (TIF) districts, which are areas where increased property tax revenue from development is used to fund improvements. The bill requires that at least 50% of a district's area must be designated as "blighted" (meeting specific criteria like deteriorated structures or unsafe conditions) or serve economic development purposes. It also adds new consent requirements: counties need municipal approval to create districts within city limits, and municipalities need county approval for districts in unincorporated areas. The bill clarifies the definition of "blighted area" to include factors like substandard structures, inadequate infrastructure, or safety hazards. These changes directly affect local governments (municipalities and counties) seeking to establish TIF districts for redevelopment projects.
Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 145) amends South Dakota law to clarify and expand municipalities' authority to take actions promoting health or suppressing disease. It removes specific restrictions that previously limited municipal power, such as prohibitions against actions that might interfere with religious freedom, free speech, assembly, or Second Amendment rights. Municipalities can now enact health-related ordinances or resolutions without needing to avoid these specific constitutional considerations. The change directly affects all South Dakota cities and towns when creating local health or disease prevention policies.
Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1324) does not actually abolish the State Board of Elections, as its title claims. Instead, it amends South Dakota law regarding petition requirements for constitutional amendments and initiated measures. The bill specifies detailed formatting rules for petition documents (e.g., 14-point font for text, designated election dates) and requires petition sponsors to submit materials to the Secretary of State, not the State Board of Elections. It also mandates circulator handouts containing specific information about petition sponsors and circulator status. The bill directly affects individuals and groups seeking to place constitutional amendments or initiated measures on the ballot.
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 summarySouth Dakota's Senate Joint Resolution 503 applies to the U.S. Congress to call a convention of states for proposing constitutional amendments. The resolution specifically requests amendments to impose fiscal restraints on federal spending, further limit federal power and jurisdiction, and establish term limits for members of Congress and other federal officials. It includes conditions requiring the convention to be limited to these topics only and ensuring Congress performs only a ministerial role in convening it. This procedural resolution does not create new law but initiates a state-level step toward potential constitutional change under Article V of the U.S. Constitution.
Maddy summaryHB 1196 establishes rules for South Dakota's participation in an Article V constitutional convention. It requires delegates to swear an oath pledging not to support "unauthorized amendments" (those outside the convention's stated purpose) and mandates immediate recall by the Secretary of State if they violate this rule. The bill also sets qualifications for delegates, including residency requirements, voter registration, and disqualifications for recent federal employees or lobbyists. It specifies that South Dakota will not participate if the convention does not guarantee equal voting power per state. The law aims to ensure delegates strictly adhere to the convention's defined scope.
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.