Latest news with #Sjaarda
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sun sets on attempt to end daylight savings in SD
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The sun set early on a bill that sought to do away with daylight savings in South Dakota on Friday. House defeats bill for new men's prison Senate Bill 186, brought by Republican Sen. Carl Perry, would have exempted the state of South Dakota from the practice of daylight savings, which runs from March 9 – November 2 in 2025, and at which time clocks are set forward one hour, causing the sun to both rise and set an hour later. Perry, in advocating his bill, cited the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, arguing standard time better aligns with circadian rhythms and improves public health and safety. Sleep is a major part of Perry's equation, as he notes that daylight savings disrupts sleep cycles. He also added dark mornings can lead to increased risks of car crashes. Republican Sen. Lauren Nelson also spoke in support of the measure, providing her views as teacher and how the time change loses them a week of instruction. Nelson also advocated for keeping standard time as the year-round time, as opposed to full-time daylight savings, on account of the dangers of parents driving their kids to school in the dark in the morning. Republican Sen. John Sjaarda gave opposition testimony, not from his position as a legislator, but as a farmer. A challenge to find shelter for rural homeless people 'I love daylight savings time,' remarked Sjaarda. 'I know it doesn't change the amount of daylight in a day, but it moves one hour of daylight from when most people are sleeping like 4:00 in the morning to when people are awake like 8:00 in the evening.' Sjaarda noted this extra hour is nice to have on the farm for when you're baling, spraying or working with livestock. 'I know some of you will say just wake up an hour earlier. Well, that's possible for me. But what about all the people who are working 8 to 5 jobs? They go home at 530. They want to go get a round of golf in before dark. They want to take the boat out to the lake and do some surfing with the family or do yard work,' said Sjaarda. Also mentioned by Sjaarda were all the kids playing sports late in the summer and into autumn. 'As the weeks go by and the sun keeps setting earlier and earlier, by the 1st of October, it's getting dark by 7:00. If we don't have daylight savings time, it'll be dark by 6:00,' he said. Ultimately, the arguments of the proponents failed to enlighten the committee, who upon a motion to defer the bill to the 41st day, voted to do so on an 8-1 vote, with Perry himself the only committee member voting against killing his bill. 'It just wasn't ready for prime time, I guess,' quipped committee chair, Republican Sen. Jim Mehlhaff, with a chuckle. 'What time was it,' replied Perry. Giving comment to KELOLAND at the end of day on Friday, Perry explained that just because the bill failed, that does not mean there wasn't support for it. Perry cited the proponent testimony and added that he does think the issue should be looked at again in the future. Benefits to sleep, safety and health were the main drivers of this bill, according to Perry, who called this a 'constituent bill', saying that his role is to listen to th constituents, and that this was what they wanted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House wants 10-year ban on cell-cultured meat sales
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Sales of cell-cultured meat would be prohibited for the next 10 years in South Dakota and the state government would be barred from funding any research, production, promotion, sale or distribution of cell-cultured protein under two measures that won approval from the state House of Representatives on Thursday. The House voted 42-26 for the sales ban in House Bill 1109. Republican Rep. John Sjaarda was the prime House sponsor. 'We simply do not know enough about the long-term effects of consuming lab-grown meat,' Sjaarda, a farmer, said. 'My primary motivation here is safety.' The 10-year ban would allow time to gather scientific information, according to Sjaarda. 'Let us lead with caution and wisdom,' he said. He quoted another legislator: 'Let's make our meat stand on its own feet.' Ellsworth bills sent to joint appropriations Republican Rep. Richard Vasgaard, a retired ag producer, spoke against the ban. 'We hear all the time we should have choice,' he said, going on to list oysters, 'tiger meat' made from raw hamburger, unpasteurized milk and tobacco as examples of products some people won't consume. 'I don't like my choice to be taken away.' Democratic Rep. Kadyn Wittman asked Sjaarda whether the proposed ban suggests that South Dakotans can't be trusted. Replied Sjaarda, 'It just protects us from the unknown.' Wittman pointed out that the Legislature has already passed legislation this year that requires cell-cultured protein products to be labeled. She said labeling promoted choice. Republican Rep. Marty Overweg said he voted against the bill in the House committee but was switching to yes. That's what the people of his legislative district want, the farmer and ag businessman said, and he was elected to represent them. 'I'm not very proud of myself today,' Overweg said. Republican Rep. Jana Hunt said the issue wasn't choice — it's holding the federal Food and Drug Administration accountable. The rancher and registered nurse said the FDA didn't go through the proper steps and needs to be sent a message. 'This is holding a government agency to the standard they are supposed to meet,' Hunt said. Hunt is prime sponsor of House Bill 1118 that prohibits state government funding of cell-cultured protein. No one else spoke and the House passed it 68-0. HB 1109 and HB 1118 now go to the Senate for further action. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cash for school events bill stalls in House
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The problem Republican Rep. John Sjaarda said he wanted House Bill 1017 to fix started in seven school districts in the Sioux Falls area. Sjaarda, of Valley Springs, said in the House Thursday, those districts were not allowing attendees to use cash for tickets at school activities. He sponsored House Bill 1017 which would have required districts to accept cash for tickets and concessions after learning that some had been denied tickets at some of the schools. For Rhoden, Venhuizen: A week of making history The opinions of HB1017 were split among lawmakers from Sioux Falls who commented in the HB1017 debate on Thursday. The bill failed to reach a majority with 34 votes in favor and 32 against. Speaker of the House Rep. John Hanson said he noted the sponsor's intent to reconsider. HB1017 was a 'knee-jerk reaction,' to policies several school districts recently started, Republican Rep. Brian Mulder of Sioux Falls said Thursday. He's learned that cardless attendees have been accommodated. 'Largely the pressure is coming from one or two individuals over the thousands that attend events,' Mulder said. Mulder said school districts including Sioux Falls need time to evaluate the policy and make changes if needed. To Mulder and several others, this is a local control issue and not an issue for state government. Republican Rep. John Hughes, of Sioux Falls, said attendees including parents and youth, who are required to use cards to pay for events are paying an additional type of tax because of fees attached to card use. 'This is the House looking out for families…,' Hughes said, who is newly elected. The intent of HB1017 may be good but it would have a potential negative impact, said newly elected lawmaker Democrat Rep. Erick Muckey of Sioux Falls said. School districts often work with third party vendors as they host state tournaments, he said. HB1017 could create a problem by requiring third party vendors to take cash. Sjaarda said HB1017 was intended to allow everyone to fully participate in attending activities. While he doesn't support government overreach, 'I realize this is a place where government needs to do its job,' Sjaarda said. HB1017 is a case where government would try to do too much, said Republican Rep. Roger DeGroot of Brookings. Parents and others who may have concerns or frustrations about a cashless policy need to talk with their school boards about possible changes, DeGroot said. Parents told the House Education committee that they did contact the school board(s), said committee member and bill supporter Republican Rep. Josephine Garcia, who is newly elected from Watertown. 'The process failed them,' Garcia said. It is a strange thing to argue about using cash which has been used much longer than cards, said bill supporter Republican Rep. Tony Randolph of Rapid City. 'I certainly don't believe this is a local control issue,' Randolph said in support of HB1017. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
