Sen. Glen Vilhauer

Maddy summaryHB 1147 appropriates $5 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture for a single grant to a statewide food distribution organization. This organization must distribute food to all counties across South Dakota, with at least $1.5 million of the grant required to purchase food directly from local South Dakota farmers and producers. The bill mandates annual reports detailing grant spending, types/amounts of food purchased, and distribution to food pantries, to be submitted to the Department of Agriculture until the full grant is expended. The funding becomes effective June 30, 2026, and is intended to support food pantries statewide while prioritizing local agricultural purchases.

Maddy summarySouth Dakota's Senate Joint Resolution 502 is a state application to the U.S. Congress seeking to trigger a constitutional convention under Article V. It requests Congress call a convention specifically to propose an amendment fixing the U.S. Supreme Court's composition at one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. This resolution does not change the Court's current size (nine justices total) but formally asks Congress to begin the process for a constitutional amendment. The application is a procedural step intended to be part of a broader effort requiring support from two-thirds of state legislatures to proceed.

Maddy summarySJR 501 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit South Dakota legislators to a maximum of 16 consecutive years (equivalent to eight terms) in total service across both the Senate and House of Representatives. This would replace the current limit of eight consecutive years (four terms) in a single chamber. The amendment clarifies that partial terms from appointments (per Article IV, § 3) do not count toward this 16-year limit. Voters would decide on this change at the next general election.

Maddy summarySB 118 creates a "homeowner tax reduction fund" in South Dakota's state treasury. Each year by January 31st, the treasurer must deposit either $100 million or 0.3% of revenues collected from specific property taxes (chapters 10-45, 10-46, 10-46E, 10-58, and § 32-5B-20) into this fund. The Department of Revenue will use these funds to provide property tax rebates for owner-occupied single-family homes, with money in the fund not allowed to transfer to the general fund and requiring annual budgeting through the general appropriation bill. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1034 would increase fees for vehicle decals and license plates mailed directly to owners. Specifically, it raises the fee to $2.50 per decal set and $12 per license plate set when mailed. This change directly affects South Dakota vehicle owners who choose to have their decals or plates sent by mail instead of picking them up in person. The bill amends existing law to implement these higher mailing fees, which apply only to mail-delivered items, not in-person transactions. The policy change is limited to the fee structure for mailed vehicle registration materials.

Maddy summaryHB 1030 revises timing rules for municipal elections in South Dakota, primarily affecting cities and towns holding elections on annexation, dissolution, or consolidation. It requires that questions like annexation must be held within 60 days of certain actions or included in the next annual election if filed within 90 days prior, reducing separate special elections. The bill also adjusts deadlines for special election notices and aligns board term lengths with even-year elections. These changes streamline election scheduling for all South Dakota municipalities conducting these specific vote types.

Maddy summaryHB 1080 allows veteran business owners to display military specialty plates on noncommercial vehicles (like personal cars or vans) registered to their business, provided the veteran is listed as an additional owner on the vehicle's title. It also limits the veteran's personal liability for damages from accidents involving these business vehicles. The bill requires the veteran to meet standard military plate eligibility and vehicle registration rules, with a $10 additional fee for the specialty plates. This directly affects veteran business owners who operate noncommercial vehicles under their business registration.

Maddy summarySB 6 reduces the maximum duration of reemployment benefits for eligible South Dakota workers. The bill amends Section 61-6-8 to shorten the standard benefit period from 26 weeks to a shorter duration (as specified in the amended statute). This directly affects individuals who qualify for state unemployment benefits by limiting how long they can receive payments. The key provision modifies the existing benefit calculation to decrease the total weeks available, without changing the weekly benefit amount. The bill does not address trade readjustment training extensions or base period wage calculations.

Maddy summaryHB 1055 updates South Dakota's official code of laws by revising references to the most current legal revisions. It specifies that the code now includes the 2026 revisions of certain volumes (like Volume 16 and 18), replaces outdated references (e.g., changing "2025" to "2026" in the text), and clarifies that the code's adoption does not affect prior legal matters. This is a procedural update, not a policy change, and directly affects how state laws are cited and organized for legal reference. It was introduced at the request of the Code Commission to maintain accurate legal documentation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 148) ends state funding for bounties paid to control wildlife that preys on bird nests. Specifically, it amends two laws (§ 40-36-9 and § 41-2-35) to prohibit using state funds from the Game, Fish and Parks department or animal damage control fund for bounties on animals like badgers, raccoons, skunks, or foxes when the purpose is nest predation control. The change directly affects how the Department of Game, Fish and Parks allocates its budget, stopping a specific funding mechanism for wildlife management. It does not alter wildlife management practices or create new programs - only removes authorization for this type of bounty payment.