Sen. Tamara Grove

Maddy summarySB 115 proposes to update South Dakota law regarding sexual contact with minors under the age of eighteen. The bill directly affects individuals who may be charged with such offenses and legal professionals handling related cases. It revises specific provisions to clarify or modify how sexual contact with children is defined or prosecuted under state statutes. The legislation aims to ensure the legal framework accurately reflects current standards for protecting minors from sexual exploitation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires individuals to be registered voters in South Dakota before they can sponsor petitions for ballot measures. It directly affects petition sponsors by adding a voter registration requirement to their eligibility. The key provision mandates that petition sponsors must meet the same voter registration standards as other voters in the state. This change ensures that only registered voters can initiate ballot measure campaigns.

Maddy summarySB 68 would require individuals to be U.S. citizens before they are eligible to vote in South Dakota elections. The bill establishes a penalty for voting without meeting this citizenship requirement. It directly affects all voters in the state by adding a citizenship verification condition to the existing voting qualifications. This legislation does not change other voting rules but specifically adds citizenship as a mandatory eligibility criterion.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the South Dakota Housing Infrastructure Fund to provide a loan to a school district located next to a federal military installation. The funds can be used to construct or expand a school building to meet educational needs. The provision applies specifically to school districts that are geographically adjacent to federal military facilities. This measure does not require new funding but instead allows existing infrastructure funds to be used for this specific purpose.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents healthcare providers in South Dakota from blocking parents or guardians from accessing their minor children's medical records and health information. It requires providers to allow authorized adults to view and obtain copies of these records without needing additional consent from the minor. The law applies to doctors, hospitals, and other medical facilities treating minors, ensuring families can review health data related to their children. This change aims to improve family involvement in healthcare decisions for minors by removing barriers to information access.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state of South Dakota to produce a report on refugee resettlement services. The report would detail how the state supports refugees who arrive and settle in the community. It directly affects state agencies responsible for managing refugee assistance programs. The provision aims to increase transparency by documenting the services provided to refugees.

Maddy summarySB 100 would modify South Dakota law to allow individuals to carry concealed firearms and other self-defense items on the campuses of public higher education institutions. The bill directly affects students, faculty, and staff at public colleges and universities within the state by changing current restrictions on carrying weapons in these locations. Key provisions would require public institutions to update their policies to permit concealed carry, provided the individual holds a valid permit and meets existing state requirements. The legislation aims to align campus security policies with broader state laws regarding firearm possession and self-defense.

Maddy summaryHB 1222 expands the conditions under which individuals in South Dakota may carry, possess, and store concealed firearms. The bill modifies existing laws to allow more people to legally carry concealed pistols in locations where they were previously restricted, such as certain public buildings and private properties. Key provisions likely include removing specific prohibitions or adding exceptions to the list of places where concealed carry is not permitted. This change directly affects law-abiding citizens who wish to carry concealed weapons and property owners who may have previously been able to prohibit such carry on their premises. The legislation aims to clarify and broaden the scope of concealed carry rights without altering the fundamental requirement for a valid permit.

Maddy summarySB 70 modifies the maximum sparsity benefit that sparse school districts in South Dakota are eligible to receive. The bill directly affects school districts classified as sparse, which are typically rural areas with low student population density. By adjusting the financial support limits, the legislation changes how much funding these districts can access to offset the higher costs of operating in low-density areas. This adjustment aims to align the benefit structure with updated criteria for sparsity classification without altering other aspects of school funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows employers in South Dakota to purchase and distribute over-the-counter opioid antagonists to their employees. The legislation creates a legal exception to existing laws that typically restrict the distribution of such medications by non-medical personnel. It directly affects businesses and their staff by permitting them to provide these drugs as a workplace harm reduction measure. The bill does not require a prescription for the antagonists, enabling easier access for employees at risk of opioid overdose.