Reviewing the 100th legislative session

The historic, 100th Legislation session is over, and what a session it was! After a couple of days at home, people are asking, “Did you get anything done?” Yes, we did. During session we processed and heard a total of 540 bills, resolutions and commemorations.
On the budget side of the ledger: we had a limited budget this year, and it looks like next year could be even a little tighter. However, in spite of a tight budget, we were able to save and fully fund South Dakota Public Libraries, fund our libraries (no librarians will not go to jail) and paid off a $60 million dollar bond, saving the state the interest monies going forward. We created the Unclaimed Property Fund that is a trust account that will protect those dollars going forward, funded maintenance and repair of state buildings and we presented a balanced budget.
A few highlights from the policy side of the ledger: The first bill the governor signed safeguarded our citizens by prohibiting any area in the state from becoming a sanctuary city. HB 1143, my Class IV Soil bill, passed with flying colors. The 17 lobbyists against it last year were in favor of it this year and we worked together to get it passed. Third year is the charm!
Also, I carried HB 1095 that passed for our local irrigation district. A few of the other bills that passed this session were SB 176— requiring government transparency; we killed HB 1025, stopping the nearly $1 billion prison project in Lincoln County. The governor has called for a task force to analyze feasibility of this project going forward.
We passed HB 1259, protecting women’s privacy. Men will use men’s bathrooms and women will use women’s bathrooms. Finally, some commonsense! We passed HB 1169 and HJR 5003 that ensures more South Dakotans have a voice in the amendment process and HB 1005 passed that provides help to families who choose to adopt.
On the property yax front, lawmakers brought more than 20 bills on property tax reform this session. SB 216, the governor’s bill, was the only tax bill that passed and has been signed into. Is SB 216 perfect? No, but I do believe that it is a good start. The bill sets a limit of 3 percent annual growth on each county’s total assessment for owner-occupied classification in order to “push pause” on skyrocketing assessments while we continue to work on a viable, impactful property tax solution.
This bill sets a maximum cap of 3 percent on annual growth due to new construction that counties can add to their budgets. This applies to cities, counties, and to school capital outlay budgets. It also changes the law so that improvements to existing homes no longer count as “new growth.” Under current law if you paint your home, put on a deck, build a shed, it would be considered as new growth and your assessed value would go up.
It increases income eligibility for the existing Elderly Property Tax Assessment Freeze Program to $55,000 for single-member homes and $65,000 for multi-member homes. The bill also increases the maximum eligible home value to $500,000.
Those who are currently enrolled in the current Property Tax Assessment Freeze Program will be grandfathered into the new program. Finally, it clarifies that all school districts can opt out of growth caps, just like cities and counties.
These are always subject to being referred to a public vote. This bill has a five-year sunset clause. I’d like to commend Gov. Rhoden for acknowledging that we need property tax relief and for making it a priority.
During this historical 100th Legislative Session, we had 30 new members in the House and with that comes a learning curve, and I appreciate that.
When a radio show host asked one of the newbies, “what surprised you the most about Pierre?” he replied, “everyone is so nice!”
It is quite amazing to watch and to be a part of a group of people from so many diverse counties, who needs are at times, diametrically opposite to your district’s needs, however, you come together and work to serve the overall good of the state.  That encourages me that South Dakotan common sense will once again prevail in Pierre and in our communities.
I hope it encourages you as well.