The Rural Lobbyist: S.D. Farmers Union Hard at Work During First Weeks of Session

Posted on: January 20, 2018 | Category: News Releases

The first two weeks of session have been busy ones, filled with committee meetings and discussion on bills that will shape the 93^rd legislative session. S.D. Farmers Union was hard at work in the capitol advocating for and identifying key bills that will be of priority in the months to come.Non-meandered water issues carried over from the June special summer session. Governor Daugaard proposed to extend the legislation that was passed in June to 2021. This week the Senate Ag and Natural resources committee agreed with him and forwarded the bill to the senate floor. There will be additional bills introduced to deal with the petitioning of opening and closing public waters. Expect water issues to be a weekly topic throughout the session.The initiative process is a focus of interest this year for the legislature. A summer study forwarded a dozen bills to be considered by the legislature and a majority of those bills have been heard in committee and are starting to work their way through the process. Individual legislators will also be introducing bills to further define the initiative and referendum process. One of the bills in this package is a proposed constitutional amendment to raise the voting percentage for passage of a constitutional amendment to 55 percent.The appropriations committee is working through individual department budgets and programs. They meet daily from 8 a.m. to noon and frequently in the afternoon as well. The 2019 budget is $4.67 billion for the state of South Dakota. This includes all federal, state, and other funds. The committee will make some adjustments to the budget towards the end of the session. December revenues are expected to be higher than expected because of a good Christmas season giving them optimism that the last 6 months of the 2018 budget year will begin trending up.W-WatchingS-SupportO-Opposed

HB 1015S	Repeal the use of explosives, pyrotechnics, and fireworks for the protection of sunflower crops from depredating birds.
W	HB 1022	Revise certain provisions regarding wind energy permits.
W	HB 1023	Repeal certain provisions regarding pipeline safety.
S	HB 1035	Repeal certain provisions and regulations related to labeling requirements for feed.
W	HB 1036	Revise certain provisions regarding the agricultural mediation program.
S	HB 1037	Revise certain provisions regarding the South Dakota State Fair.
S	HB 1046	Allow certain resident farmers or ranchers to receive a big game license during the Black Hills deer season.
S	HB 1047	Revise certain provisions defining fur-bearing animals.
W	HB 1081	Extend the effective date of certain provisions regarding the recreational use of nonmeandered water.
S	HB 1089	Repeal the South Dakota certified beef program and to transfer remaining funds from the South Dakota certified beef fund.
W	HJR 1001	Proposing and submitting to the voters an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, removing the Legislature’s authority to set legislator salaries for a regular legislative session.
S	SB 22	Allow commercial driver license applicants three attempts to pass the commercial driver license examination.
S	SB 24	Extend the effective date of certain provisions regarding the recreational use of nonmeandered water.
S	SB 26	Revise certain provisions regarding public grain buyers.
S	SB 29	Increase the amount authorized for certain brand fees and to authorize a brand registration application fee and an expedited registration fee.
W	SB 33	Repeal certain mediation programs regarding damages from oil and gas development and disputes over drainage of water.
S	SB 34	Revise certain provisions regarding registration for pesticide products.
S	SB 39	Revise certain provisions regarding permitted improvements on school and public lands.
S	SB 55	Revise certain provisions regarding the tax on endoparasiticides and ectoparasiticides.
O	SJR 1	Proposing and submitting to the electors at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, relating to amendments to the Constitution.

Make sure you continue to stay tuned to our Rural Lobbyist this legislative session for a weekly wrap-up and forecast of the week to come.