Rural Lobbyist: House and Senate Ag Committee Update 2/4/15

 Today marked a busy day for the members of the House and Senate Ag and Natural Resources Committees. The House Ag Committee originally had three bills on the agenda but deferred HB 1094 for another day.

The other two bills were heard and action was taken.

HB 1120 was unanimously passed by the committee 11-0. The bill reclassifies timber as an agricultural practice for taxing purposes. Previous language excluded timber under tax purposes despite numerous references to timber as an agricultural practice in other sections of state law. The bill was an attempt to clarify state law and to provide consistency. The bill awaits decision on the House floor.

The second bill heard by the committee required legislative approval of certain land acquisitions of Game, Fish, and Parks. Discussion on HB 1151 proved that consent was less unanimous. Ultimately the bill passed out of committee by a vote of 7-4. HB 1151 also awaits decision on the House floor.

The Senate Ag Committee heard follow up testimony on SB 80 limiting the liability of hosts of fishing tournaments in South Dakota. An amendment to the legislation was provided by Senator Brown and approved by the committee. Ultimately, the bill passed committee and will await decision on the Senate floor.

After SB 80, the committee heard testimony on SB 58 which revises certain restrictions for the use of night-vision equipment for hunting under certain conditions. The primary purpose of the legislation relates to rise in coyote population in South Dakota. Proponents argued that the rise in population has had a significant impact on cattle and the population of other wildlife. Currently landowners are allowed, with one guest, to use night vision equipment to hunt certain animals, including coyotes, at night. Both the landowner and guest are only allowed to use firearms firing rimfire cartridges, essentially limiting the caliber of the ammunition.

The original version of SB 58 removed language requiring the landowner to be present, increased the number of guests allowed to hunt, and increased the caliber of the round allowed. However, after considerable discussion prior to the committee, an amendment was drafted to once again require the landowners presence. The only changes that remained included allowing no more than four guests in a hunting party and increased the caliber of round allowed.

The bill proved contentious among committee members and ultimately received a split vote of 5-4 in favor of the legislation. South Dakota Farmers Union, with passage of the amendment, is now able to stand in support of the legislation. Prior to the amendment, Farmers Union was unable to support the legislation.

Senate bill 71 allowed for a discounted rate for small game licenses and fishing licenses to certain veterans at reduced fees and authorized certain nonresident veterans to get nonresident small game licenses at a reduced fee. The bill addressed a previous statute and extended the one day license to a one-to-two day license and replaced the total disability requirement to a forty percent disability requirement.

The committee responded positively and unanimously passed the bill as amended 8-0. The bill will await decision on the Senate floor.

The final bill heard by the committee was SB 78. This legislation states that for “each acre of school and public lands that is shown on any hunting atlas, map, or other publication or document that is made available to the public by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, or any other state agency, as open to public hunting during the calendar year, money shall be transferred from the Department of Game, Fish and Parks fund to the permanent school fund.” The prime sponsor, Senator Olson, explained that there are some trespassing concerns with hunters crossing private land in order to reach school and public land. The senator argued that hunters were able to locate this land using maps provided by the Game, Fish, and Parks. The committee heard opponent testimony from Game, Fish, and Parks. Tony Leif suggested that it came down to a matter of whether or not the public should have access to the information of what lands they can and cannot hunt. Senate bill 78 too proved contentious and failed to make it out of committee by a vote of 4-5.

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Last Modified: 02/04/2016 9:20:56 pm MST