Latest news with #SouthDakotaHouse
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Dakota House fails to override child care subsidy veto from governor
South Dakota House Minority Leader Erin Healy, D-Sioux Falls, speaks to members of the press on March 6, 2025, at the Capitol in Pierre. Healy sponsored a child care assistance bill that was vetoed by the governor. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) The South Dakota House of Representatives failed to override the first veto of Gov. Larry Rhoden's administration on Thursday morning at the Capitol in Pierre. Lawmakers in the House spent around half an hour debating the possibility of reviving House Bill 1132's attempt to expand child care subsidies for child care workers and overruling the governor's Wednesday veto. In the end, the vote to overturn the veto failed 27-43. Because of its failure in the House, there was no need for the Senate to consider it. Thursday was the final day of the annual legislative session, except for a day on March 31 to consider any further vetoes from Rhoden, who is still considering bills. HB 1132's backers took issue with Rhoden's characterization of the bill as an unfair expansion of a social safety net program to people in a specific field. With governor's veto, all three child care proposals stymied during 2025 legislative session Parents in South Dakota with incomes at 209% or less of the federal poverty level are eligible for child care tuition assistance. The bill vetoed on Wednesday would have bumped that eligibility figure up to 300% for full-time child care workers. Child care workers who can't afford their own child care bills, the reasoning goes, cannot stay on the job and watch the kids of parents who can't work without child care. The hope would be for South Dakota to keep more child care workers on the job. 'When child care workers leave the workforce, the crisis deepens,' said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Erin Healy, D-Sioux Falls. Opponents said they agreed with the governor. They didn't see the subsidy as fair to other families, worried about a permanent subsidy the state couldn't afford, and suggested that the bill would tip the scales in favor of one approach to child care. Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, argued that lawmakers can't simultaneously be conservative and supportive of subsidies for a specific type of worker. 'That's why I respect the governor. I think he's well-stated the answer,' Hughes said. 'Don't buy into this. Don't buy into this idea that we're going to start subsidizing a group of, God bless them, child care workers. It's just a bad precedent.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New version of bill to aid Ellsworth Air Force Base specifies $15 million loan for school
Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, R-Sioux Falls, speaks on the South Dakota House floor on March 5, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) The effort to win state financial support for a new elementary school necessitated by growth at Ellsworth Air Force Base won a legislative endorsement Thursday at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. The state House of Representatives' 41-28 vote was the latest twist in a multi-year struggle. Legislation to provide $15 million of state funding for the project failed last year. Earlier this week, Sen. Helene Duhamel, R-Rapid City, tried a new approach. She convinced the Senate to pass a bill that would transfer $15 million from a state housing infrastructure fund to a new support and development fund for projects 'promoting the development, expansion, and support of the mission' at Ellsworth. Duhamel's legislation did not mention the need for a new elementary school in the Douglas School District near the base, which neighbors Rapid City and Box Elder. US senators stress importance of Douglas School expansion ahead of B-21 arrival When the bill came up Thursday for debate in the House, Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, R-Sioux Falls, convinced representatives to adopt an amendment. The amended bill, which the House ultimately passed, authorizes the South Dakota Housing Development Authority to make an interest-free, 20-year loan up to $15 million from the housing infrastructure fund 'to a school district adjoining a federal military installation for the purpose of constructing or expanding a school building.' Speaking on behalf of her amendment, Rehfeldt said it 'provides both transparency and very forthright intention about what this money is going to be used for.' Growth at the base is driven by an estimated $2 billion worth of construction to accommodate the future arrival of B-21 stealth bomber planes, which are under development. That activity is expected to expand the population of the base and the surrounding area significantly, putting stress on local governments to respond with new roads, housing, schools, and other infrastructure and services. The formal name of the housing infrastructure fund is the Housing Infrastructure Financing Program. The Legislature created it two years ago with state dollars and federal pandemic relief money. Half of the $200 million fund was made available as grants to support infrastructure for housing projects, and all of that money has been awarded. The other half was made available as loans, but demand has been low, leaving more than $80 million still available as of December. Debate on the amended bill was long and lively, with some legislators seeming to suggest that the unused housing funds are proof they were duped into putting too much money into the program. 'I guess we can officially declare the workforce housing 'crisis' over now, right?' said Republican House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach with intended sarcasm. Some said the money is still needed for housing infrastructure — including around the growing base — and should be retained for that purpose. Others said it would set a bad precedent to single out one school for state help, while other schools finance their own construction projects. Arguments on behalf of Ellsworth's role in national defense and the economy of South Dakota — it's the state's second-largest employer, one lawmaker said — ultimately won out. Several legislators described an ever-escalating competition among communities around the country to keep their military bases from closing. Ellsworth was temporarily on a closure list 20 years ago, which sparked a successful state and local campaign to protect it. That campaign has included clearing land in accident potential zones, adding a drone mission, creating a new training airspace and other initiatives. Rep. Jack Kolbeck, R-Sioux Falls, said providing money for a school to educate the children of people stationed at Ellsworth is another way to protect the base. 'I think that is something that we can show, that we want that B-21 here, and we want that air base to stay here,' Kolbeck said. According to past information presented to legislators, the school is expected to cost more than $60 million, with federal and local funding sources providing the rest of the money. The bill now goes back to the Senate for its consideration of the amended language.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
SD House defeats bill requiring ‘forever chemical' labels on firefighting gear
Rep. Kevin Van Diepen, R-Huron, speaks with lawmakers on the South Dakota House floor during the governor's budget address on Dec. 3, 2024. Van Diepen opposed a bill Wednesday that would have required PFAS labeling on firefighting gear. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) PIERRE — Legislation that would have required protective firefighting equipment purchased by fire departments in South Dakota to be labeled with its 'forever chemical' status failed Wednesday in the state House of Representatives. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s and don't break down easily in the environment or in the human body. The chemicals can be found in everything from firefighting foam to thermal and water-resistant clothing to soil and water. Research indicates PFAS exposure may be linked to negative developmental and reproductive effects, and an increased risk of some cancers. The federal government finalized phased-in limits on some types of PFAS in drinking water earlier this year. PFAS has been found in preliminary testing of Mount Rushmore drinking water and in the Big Sioux River. 'Forever chemicals' found in Big Sioux River, based on preliminary data Senate Bill 163 would have required South Dakota fire departments' future purchases of coats, coveralls, footwear, gloves, helmets, hoods and trousers to have a permanent label from the manufacturer identifying whether the material includes PFAS. Occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service, and the International Association of Firefighters attributes 66% of firefighter deaths between 2002 and 2019 to cancer. Rep. David Kull, R-Brandon, carried the bill on the House floor, saying that the legislation would send a message to companies to develop PFAS-free gear and protect South Dakota firefighters from increased cancer risks. The National Fire Protection Association, a nonprofit organization that develops and publishes safety codes and standards, issued new standards in August 2024. The standards require manufacturer-suppliers of firefighting safety gear to test their materials for some types of PFAS. Lawmakers who spoke against the bill largely cited opposition from local fire chiefs, saying the legislation would amount to government overreach by the state. The state Department of Public Safety and the South Dakota Joint Fire Council opposed the legislation during its committee hearing. 'We're going to make them spend more money on things that they could buy cheaper because it doesn't have a label,' said Rep. Kevin Van Diepen, R-Huron, 'and we're going to force them to do this.' The House voted 57-13 to defeat the legislation.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CO2 pipeline moratorium and land-agent regulations advance, but environmental analysis bill fails
Rep. Richard Vasgaard, R-Centerville, speaks to lawmakers on the South Dakota House floor in Pierre on Feb. 25, 2025. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) PIERRE – In South Dakota's ongoing debate over carbon capture pipelines, lawmakers advanced two bills to further regulate those projects Tuesday but rejected one that would have required in-depth environmental assessments. The bills are among several filed in response to controversy over Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed $9 billion, five-state pipeline that would pass through eastern South Dakota. The project would transport captured carbon dioxide emissions from more than 50 ethanol plants to an underground storage area in North Dakota. While supporters view it as a critical step toward bolstering the ethanol industry, opponents are concerned about private property rights and safety risks from potential leaks. One of the bills that passed the House of Representatives, 40-30, seeks to halt the construction of carbon dioxide pipelines in South Dakota until the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration finalizes new safety regulations. 'This bill simply asks that we take the time to sit back, take a step back, and wait until these rules are finished,' said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Richard Vasgaard, R-Centerville. Supporters said the moratorium is essential to safeguard residents and ensure that comprehensive safety standards are in place before proceeding with such projects. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Opponents said existing regulations are sufficient and that delaying pipeline development could hinder economic opportunities and deter investment in the state's energy sector. The bill goes to the Senate next. Another bill headed to the Senate empowers landowners to sue for allegedly deceptive practices, fraud, harassment, intimidation or misrepresentation during the acquisition of land access agreements — known as easements — by carbon pipeline land agents. It passed the House 36-34. Supporters alleged there have been numerous instances when landowners faced aggressive or misleading tactics from CO2 pipeline land agents. They said the bill provides the necessary legal recourse and promotes fair negotiations. 'Why is it OK for these companies to treat us like this?' said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Kaley Nolz, R-Mitchell. Opponents said such misconduct is already illegal. They said the bill's provisions might be overly broad, potentially complicating legitimate infrastructure projects and leading to increased litigation. 'This bill is a lawyer's dream,' said Rep. Steve Duffy, R-Rapid City. A bill failed that would have mandated any applicant seeking a permit for a carbon dioxide pipeline to have an environmental impact statement. Opponents said the requirement could introduce bureaucratic delays, increase project costs and discourage companies from pursuing energy projects in South Dakota. Supporters emphasized the necessity of thoroughly assessing potential environmental consequences, like the impact on the state's water resources, before project approval. 'We are literally, in my opinion, walking blind into a huge project that is going to use millions of gallons of water,' said bill sponsor Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls. However, because the bill also included a permanent application fee increase, the House speaker ruled that the bill required a two-thirds majority. The vote was 37-32, which was short of two-thirds, and the bill failed. The Summit project may ultimately need eminent domain to gain land access from unwilling landowners. Eminent domain is a legal process for obtaining that access with just compensation determined by a court, for a project beneficial to the public — traditionally for projects such as electrical power lines, crude oil pipelines, water pipelines and highways. A bill to ban eminent domain for carbon pipelines passed the House last month and is awaiting action in the Senate. Another bill approved by the Senate earlier this week would retain eminent domain as an option. But it would require entities using it to first attend mediation with the affected landowner and to also have a state permit before commencing eminent domain proceedings. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers approve sweeping approach to internet porn age verification
State Rep. Bethany Soye, R-Sioux Falls, speaks with lawmakers on the South Dakota House floor during the governor's budget address on Dec. 3, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) PIERRE — More than a dozen states have passed or are considering laws to require porn sites to ask adults who want to visit them for personal information to prove their age. So far, each of them — including Texas, whose law had an audience with the U.S. Supreme Court last month — have applied the rule to sites on which a third or more of the content counts as pornography. South Dakota could soon be the first state to affix the expectation to any site that hosts any pornography in the 'regular course of the website's trade or business.' Legislative committee endorses prosecution of librarians who lend books deemed harmful to children On Wednesday at the state Capitol, the Senate voted 34-0 to send that bill to the desk of Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden. 'It's a huge step forward,' said Sen. Jim Mehlhaff, R-Pierre, a prime sponsor of House Bill 1053. 'It's time to jump on board and protect our children from pornography on the internet.' No senators spoke against the bill on the Senate floor. The Senate Judiciary Committee spent more than an hour hearing testimony on age verification on Tuesday, however. There was broad agreement in the committee room on the need to address the omnipresence of online pornography. 'It used to be years ago that when we went into schools, we only heard the word 'porn' in schools. Then it became middle school,' said Holly Strand, a Rapid City forensic interviewer in child sex crime investigations. 'About five years ago, we had a kindergartner ask us how to handle pornography. It was all downhill from there.' The Senate panel had two options for age verification on its plate Tuesday. Each aimed to force adult sites to ask visitors for something like a credit card or state-issued driver's license to prove they're old enough to be there. Both required the deletion of that data after the visit. Each would let South Dakota's attorney general levy criminal fines against companies that don't comply. One of them, Senate Bill 18, rejected by the committee, follows the model of Texas by targeting sites where one-third of the content is adult material. SD House approves age verification bill; some Democrats raise censorship concerns HB 1053 draws no such line. The House bill came from Rep. Bethany Soye, R-Sioux Falls. On Tuesday, she said the one-third figure was pulled from thin air by Louisiana lawmakers looking to preempt concerns about an overly broad restriction in their age verification legislation. 'Every state just blindly copied them,' said Soye, who is an attorney. 'And I think that we can do better than that.' To her, the one-third standard amounts to an invitation for porn sites to find ways to keep their total adult content just below the line, perhaps at 29.9% pornography. 'You can already see the loophole,' Soye said. The Texas law, which is similar to Louisiana's, had a hearing in the U.S. Supreme Court last month. The justices won't decide themselves if such laws violate the First Amendment. Instead, the high court is poised to decide how strict lower courts must be as they rule on the constitutionality of age verification laws. Attorney General Marty Jackley told the committee his office would support the state in a lawsuit over either bill. 'I believe this is something that should've been addressed by Congress, but in their absence, you have to act,' Jackley said. He'd prefer to defend the Senate version that mirrors Texas, though. So would Doug Abraham. He's the South Dakota lobbyist for The App Association, which bills itself as a trade group for small tech businesses. He said the lack of a standard for how much content needs to be adult material creates 'overbreadth' concerns. Expecting every app or website with potentially pornographic content to ask for personal information from its users is akin to expecting a mall with a liquor store to make sure every visitor is 21, Abraham said. 'You'd be carding everybody who goes into the mall,' he told the committee. No bill will prevent determined children from accessing pornography, many supporters conceded, but the stricter the rules, the better the chances. 'Even if this prevents one child in our state from earlier exposure to porn, this bill is a success,' said Strand, the forensic examiner. Samantha Chapman of the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota voiced concerns about constitutionality. 'All means of age verification that are currently available to us today present substantial risks to anonymous web browsing and internet privacy, which will create a chilling effect on content that is legally available,' Chapman said. South Dakota attorney general tells lawmakers to consider age verification for porn sites There are tools available to parents now, she said. There are other approaches that haven't been tried yet, such as age verification that ties content access to the age of a device's user. Beyond First Amendment concerns with HB 1053's approach, she pointed to worries over the practice of scanning and sharing personal data to access sensitive content. People could intercept the data for use in extortion, she suggested, regardless of a state law's requirement that data be deleted. 'The mere presence of government-issued IDs being scanned and transmitted online, presents risk, the potential for hackers and thieves, and potentially hostile foreign governments to take that data into and to use it,' she said. Chapman testified against both bills, while conceding that SB 18 would be preferable because it would sweep in fewer websites. Sen. David Wheeler, R-Huron, is chair of the Judiciary Committee. He had questions about how broadly HB 1053 would apply, wondering if it could sweep up streaming services like Netflix if the site regularly hosts movies arguably deemed pornographic. After the committee rejected the other bill, he joined other committee members in voting for Soye's bill. 'At this point, since I have no other option, I'm going to support 1053,' Wheeler said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
