South Dakota Searchlight • 21st February 2025

Lawmakers advance carbon pipeline moratorium and bill regulating land agents • South Dakota Searchlight

South Dakota lawmakers advanced bills Friday at the Capitol in Pierre that would put a moratorium on carbon dioxide pipelines until new federal safety rules are finalized, and would authorize landowners to sue pipeline companies for the alleged abuses of their land agents.
The bills don’t name Summit Carbon Solutions, but they’re a response to the Iowa company’s proposed $9 billion, five-state pipeline that would pass through eastern South Dakota. It would collect carbon dioxide emitted by more...

South Dakota Searchlight • 20th February 2025

Push to ban lab-grown meat fails in South Dakota Senate • South Dakota Searchlight

A legislative effort to ban lab-grown meat in South Dakota failed Thursday at the Capitol in Pierre, after the success of earlier bills to require labeling and prohibit state spending in support of the product.
The ban’s initial failure was Wednesday on a 17-17 vote in the Senate, with one member absent. That was Sen. Kevin Jensen, R-Canton, who had voted for the bill when it advanced out of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
A supporter of the legislation, Sen. Mykala Voita...

South Dakota Searchlight • 19th February 2025

Legislative committee endorses prosecution of librarians who lend books deemed harmful to children • South Dakota Searchlight

A South Dakota legislative committee advanced a bill Wednesday at the Capitol in Pierre that would subject schools, universities, museums, libraries and their employees to criminal prosecution and jail time for allowing children to view material defined in state law as obscene or harmful to minors.
An opponent of the bill said it would put “librarians in handcuffs” for lending a book to a child that some adults might consider inappropriate. One member of the House Education Committee who voted i...

South Dakota Searchlight • 17th February 2025

The simple solution for South Dakota’s budget woes: Restore the sales tax rate • South Dakota Searchlight

South Dakota legislators are suffering from all sorts of angst this winter over a seemingly complicated budget situation that many believe can only be solved by cuts.
In reality, the solution isn’t complicated at all. It’s incredibly simple: Just move the state sales tax rate back to 4.5%. That would wipe out all of the budget problems with money left to spare.
Confused? Don’t be. There’s an easy explanation for how we got here.
In the fall of 2022, then-Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, sensed th...

South Dakota Searchlight • 17th February 2025

Mount Rushmore fireworks to return next year, mixing a spectacle with fire risks and other problems • South Dakota Searchlight

Mount Rushmore will host an Independence Day-themed fireworks display next year, bringing worldwide attention to the national memorial and South Dakota, but also bringing concerns about potential forest fires, water pollution, litter and other problems.
South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden announced Monday that the state has reached an agreement with the federal government to host a fireworks display at the mountain carving next year in celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. Rhoden sai...

South Dakota Searchlight • 12th February 2025

Lawmakers advance bill requiring SD schools to teach Native American history, culture • South Dakota Searchlight

South Dakota public schools would be required to teach a specific set of Native American historical and cultural lessons if a bill unanimously endorsed by a legislative committee Tuesday in Pierre becomes law.
The bill would mandate the teaching of the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings. The phrase “Oceti Sakowin” refers to the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people. The understandings are a set of standards and lessons adopted seven years ago by the South Dakota Board of Education Standards with...

South Dakota Searchlight • 11th February 2025

Property tax credits rise from the ‘ashes’ of failed SD school choice legislation • South Dakota Searchlight

A bill described as an “opportunity for a phoenix to rise out of the ashes” of South Dakota’s school choice debate advanced out of a legislative committee Tuesday at the Capitol in Pierre.
The legislation from state Sen. John Carley, R-Piedmont, would provide property tax credits to help families pay for private school, homeschooling or other forms of alternative instruction.
Rapid City resident Tonchi Weaver, representing the conservative political action group Citizens for Liberty, made the “p...

South Dakota Searchlight • 11th February 2025

SD lawmakers consider higher license fees for drivers and tradespeople • South Dakota Searchlight

Fees for drivers, plumbers, cosmetologists, electricians and accountants would increase if lawmakers adopt a package of bills pending in the South Dakota Legislature.
A state Senate budget committee advanced several of the bills Monday at the Capitol in Pierre and delayed action on one.
The trade-specific bills are recommended by state boards and commissions consisting of industry representatives. Those bodies oversee licensing and inspections that are funded by fees, with caps set in state law....

South Dakota Searchlight • 8th February 2025

Attempted cap on SD school administrator pay fails, but highlights disparity with teachers • South Dakota Searchlight

PIERRE — A state senator brought attention to a disparity in educator compensation in South Dakota but lost her attempt Friday to cap administrator salaries at three times the average pay of teachers.
The Senate vote against the bill from Sen. Sue Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, was 22-13.
Peterson said South Dakota’s teachers rank 49th nationally in average pay, while administrators rank 16th.
“Our teachers are last and our administrators are near the top. That’s wrong,” Peterson said.
In opposition c...

South Dakota Searchlight • 7th February 2025

Busloads of public broadcasting supporters make case to avoid $3.6 million state budget cut • South Dakota Searchlight

PIERRE — Supporters of South Dakota Public Broadcasting made their pitch Friday at the Capitol to avoid a $3.6 million budget cut that they said would undermine public safety, government transparency, education, high school activities and local storytelling.
The state agency receives state and federal funding, along with money raised by its affiliated nonprofit, the Friends of SDPB. Friends CEO Ryan Howlett told members of the Legislature’s budget committee that the state funding cut would imper...