Five bills have passed through the Senate

I promised I would give the Black Hills its voice back and let me share with you how that is going. So far this year, I have successfully passed five bills through the Senate.
• SB 75 – Requiring citizenship on drivers licenses and ID cards
• SB 72 – Allows counties to save money by recovering autopsy costs
• SB 91 – Updating the petition format to be more transparent (consent calendar)
• SB 92 – Requiring the Initiated measure process to undergo single subject review just like constitutional amendments (passed the Senate floor unanimously).
• SB 94 – Faithless elector law for presidential elections
Four of these bills had to make it through the State Affairs Committee, and one was even placed on the consent calendar—a strong sign of bipartisan support. While my predecessor had eight bills and eight kills and could not get a single piece of legislation passed through the body, my bills have largely sailed through committee and are now headed to the House.
I still have a couple of bills making their way through committee, including SB 169 and SB 191, which focus on property taxes. The hearing for SB 191 is this week and I would love to have your support in the committee room.
Details:
• Location: Floor 4; Room 423
• Time: 10 a.m.
• Committee: Senate Taxation
• Date: Feb. 21
Governor’s Property Tax Bill – A yes...and!
While I was glad to serve on the Governor’s Property Task Force, the task force bill is not the be-all, end-all solution. I will support SB 216 because it stabilizes our tax structure for the future—but we must go further which is why I am continuing to fight for SB 191, which will provide South Dakotans true relief.
For those whose property assessments skyrocketed in the last few years due to an abnormal influx of out-of-state buyers, a reset is needed to correct these injustices. A fair and stable system means ensuring homeowners aren’t punished for economic shifts beyond their control. I will keep fighting for real property tax relief.
As always, thank you for your support and engagement. Stay tuned for updates, and I hope to see you at the committee hearing this week!
As a reminder: Property Tax Meeting Hot Springs American Legion Feb. 23, 12:30 p.m.
Other Updates:
• Visited by Hill City students – always a pleasure to engage with our future leaders. Thank you to Mrs. Mueller for bringing them to Pierre. If your group or class wants to make a trip to the Capitol please reach out!
•  Met with Custer Mayor Bob Brown and Lea Anne McWhorter from Custer County Republicans for the West Dam funding hearing—advocating for essential rural infrastructure that can help us fight fires in the future.