Sen. Helene Duhamel

Maddy summaryThis House Commemoration (HC 8003) honors Joyce Waddell for her retirement from the Bison School District after 56 years of service as a teacher, counselor, and librarian. It recognizes her total 61 years of dedication to South Dakota education, including teaching multiple generations of students and maintaining deep community connections throughout her career. The resolution is a ceremonial tribute introduced by multiple legislators, with no associated policy changes or funding.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 6003) recognizes conservation and restoration practices - such as native vegetation restoration, stream rehabilitation, and beaver dam analogues - as critical for addressing water shortages and reducing wildfire risks in South Dakota's Black Hills region. It specifically commends organizations like the Black Hills Watershed Collaborative, landowners, and community groups working on these projects. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally acknowledges these efforts' role in improving water availability, fire mitigation, soil health, and ecosystem resilience. It serves as a symbolic statement of legislative support for ongoing community-led conservation work.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill) honoring Madisen Younie as 2025 South Dakota Girls State Governor and Brody Tynan as 2025 South Dakota Boys State Governor. It also recognizes the South Dakota American Legion and Auxiliary for their decades-long sponsorship of the Girls State and Boys State programs, which educate youth about U.S. government through hands-on learning. The resolution formally expresses legislative appreciation for these young leaders and the Legion's long-term coordination of the programs.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (not a law), not a bill affecting policies or people. It formally recognizes the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, as a moment to reflect on foundational American principles. The resolution has no legal effect or concrete policy changes; it serves only to symbolically acknowledge the anniversary through a formal statement by the South Dakota Senate. It does not impose requirements, allocate funds, or directly impact any individuals or groups.

Maddy summarySB 90 aims to clarify existing rules about tax deeds in South Dakota, which are documents used to transfer property ownership when taxes are unpaid. The bill directly affects property owners, tax collectors, and legal professionals involved in tax foreclosure processes. It seeks to make the language of current tax deed provisions clearer and more consistent, without changing the underlying procedures. This legislative change is intended to reduce confusion and ensure uniform application of tax deed laws across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an electronic system for vehicle titles in South Dakota, directly affecting vehicle owners and the state's Department of Revenue. The key provision requires the creation of a digital platform to issue and manage vehicle titles, replacing or supplementing current paper-based processes. This change aims to streamline title transfers and reduce administrative costs by digitizing records. The bill does not specify additional requirements for vehicle registration or insurance, focusing solely on the electronic title system implementation.

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 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 authorizes counties in South Dakota to work together to operate a shared office for county directors of equalization. It directly affects county governments by allowing them to collaborate on administrative functions related to property assessment and tax equalization. The key provision permits multiple counties to pool resources and staff for this specific role, potentially reducing individual county costs. The legislation focuses on operational cooperation rather than changing existing tax laws or assessment standards.