Sen. Carl Perry

Maddy summarySB 201 permits hunters to use drones to locate and recover mortally wounded deer or elk when standard tracking methods fail, directly affecting hunters who meet specific conditions. The bill requires hunters to reasonably believe the animal was mortally wounded during a lawful hunt and that it cannot be found with conventional methods. Drone use is restricted to private land, outside September-November, with pilot permission from landowners, FAA compliance, and adherence to rules set by the Game, Fish and Parks Commission. Violating these rules would be a Class 1 misdemeanor. The law does not change general hunting regulations but adds a specific exception for drone-assisted recovery under strict parameters.

Maddy summarySB 157 amends South Dakota's school funding formula to require using an *average fall enrollment* (instead of enrollment on a single date) when calculating a school district's "local need" for state funding. This directly affects all public school districts in South Dakota by changing how their student enrollment count is determined for funding calculations. The bill replaces the current method - using enrollment on the last Friday of September - with an average, which could stabilize funding by smoothing out seasonal enrollment fluctuations. The change applies specifically to the calculation of "local need" under § 13-13-10.1(32) in the education funding code.

Maddy summaryHB 1124 makes it a felony to enter or remain within 1,000 feet of a place of worship with intent to disrupt services, harass attendees, or intimidate through political means. Violators face a Class 5 felony charge. The bill defines "place of worship" as any building regularly used for religious activities, identifiable by design, signs, or features. This law directly affects individuals who intentionally trespass near religious sites with the prohibited intentions.

Maddy summarySB 143 requires South Dakota's Department of Health to submit an annual report to the legislature by March 1 each year, focusing on public health impacts of cannabis use. The report must include specific data like medical cannabis program expenses/revenues, cannabis-related poisonings, drug-related deaths with cannabis metabolites detected, hospitalizations, licensing violations, and patient demographics. It directly affects the Department of Health (as the reporting entity) and the legislature (as the recipient of the data). The bill mandates concrete data collection on public health outcomes without changing cannabis laws or regulations.

Maddy summarySB 104 requires South Dakota's Medicaid program to reimburse licensed therapists for equine-assisted therapy. The bill mandates reimbursement for physical therapists, occupational therapists, or speech-language pathologists who provide therapy using horse-human interactions to help patients meet treatment goals. This applies to Medicaid recipients and requires the state to submit a federal plan amendment by August 1, 2026, to implement the coverage. The law specifically defines "therapy using equine movement" as therapeutic activities leveraging horse interactions to achieve clinical objectives.

Maddy summarySB 85 requires South Dakota school districts to hold a voter election before implementing or increasing an "excess tax levy" (property tax increases beyond the base amount). This applies to both general fund and capital outlay tax levies, meaning school boards can no longer unilaterally approve such increases - they must now seek voter approval through a formal election. The bill mandates specific public notice requirements (e.g., newspaper ads or mailed notices) and allows voters to petition for an election if 5% of registered voters sign a petition. The election must be held by October 1st of the year prior to tax payment, ensuring taxpayers have a direct say in local property tax changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1125 establishes a 15-member taskforce to study how artificial intelligence systems affect South Dakota, directly involving state government, industries (healthcare, banking, retail, manufacturing, tech), education (teachers/administrators), local governments (county auditors, municipalities), and the judiciary. The taskforce, appointed by legislative leaders, the governor, the Supreme Court chief justice, and the Board of Regents, must report findings and recommendations - including potential legislation - to the Legislative Research Council by December 1, 2028. The bill does not enact new laws but mandates a study of AI's impacts, dissolving the taskforce after its report. This procedural bill focuses on gathering data to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a formal legislative resolution honoring the Yankton School District for its 150th anniversary. It recognizes the district as South Dakota's longest-accredited public school system and highlights its academic performance, recent early childhood learning center, and teacher training partnership. The resolution has no policy or funding changes - it solely serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment by the South Dakota Legislature. It directly affects the Yankton School District by formally celebrating its historical and educational contributions. The bill does not impose new requirements or alter existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (not a bill with policy changes), recognizing February as National Career and Technical Education and National Career and Technical Student Organizations Month. It formally acknowledges South Dakota's career and technical education programs serving over 30,000 students and student organizations with more than 10,000 members (including FFA, SkillsUSA, and HOSA). The resolution has no binding effect or policy impact; it serves only to honor these educational efforts through symbolic recognition. No specific groups or individuals are directly affected by this commemoration.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SC 806) is a non-binding legislative commemoration honoring four South Dakota school administrators for their service: David Olson (Meade Middle School Principal), Kendra Becker (Redfield Secondary School Principal), Richie Hutchinson (Sioux Falls Assistant Middle School Principal), and Kay Bass (Harrisburg Assistant Secondary School Principal). It recognizes their combined 88 years of dedication to education, peer-elected "Outstanding School Administrator" status for 2025-2026, and their commitment to improving educational opportunities. The resolution formally names them as official representatives of South Dakota School Administrators. This is purely ceremonial and does not create new laws or affect policies.