The Rural Lobbyist: Senate Bill 21 Passes out of Senate Ag.

January 27, 2017 – By #South Dakota Farmer Union

 Senate Bill 21 was one of two bills to pass out of the Senate Ag committee this week. This bill was a clean-up bill proposed by the Public Utilities Commission. Commissioner Chris Nelson noted that this bill was designed to streamline the process for claims against grain buyers and grain warehouses. While the committee agreed on the majority of sections within the bill, there was debate regarding the public notice section. Justin Smith, representing the South Dakota Newspaper Association, was the sole opponent to the bill and highlighted his concerns with the public notice changes. Currently in statute it requires that public notice be provide through direct mail to all those who may be entitled to a claim, through a published notice in each county in which the licensee maintains a business location, and in a newspaper of general circulation within the state. The new language would repeal the last of those requirements, the publication in a newspaper of general circulation. Smith argued that the revised version hurts transparency and is ultimately of little cost to the taxpayer. He handed out to the committee a suggested amendment which was offered and seconded but the amendment ultimately failed. Once the amendment failed and the discussion over the public notice section ended, the bill passed out of committee unanimously (8-0). The bill awaits action on the Senate floor. SDFU had previously met with Commissioner Nelson to discuss this legislation. Finding no objection we supported the bill.

Last Modified: 01/27/2017 8:21:16 pm MST