South Dakota

Redistricting: The 2012 state elections will be held in newly drawn districts under the state redistricting plan. Mpas, address loo up, and Google maps of the new South Dakota districts can be found on this South Dakota Government page: South Dakota Redistricting.

The 87th Legislative Session convened on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012.

Getting information about the activities and legislation is easy. Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) continuously monitors bills introduced in the South Dakota Legislature that could affect electric utilities in the state of South Dakota. To find out who represents your utility interests go to the South Dakota Secretary of State website.

2012 Senate Bill Introductions

SB 59: A bill revising public records laws to state that records may be closed under federal statute or rule in so far as necessary to participate in federal programs or benefits.
Status: Introduced 1/19/12; referred to Senate State Affairs. Set for hearing 1/25/12. Deferred to 41st Legislative Day (8-1) 1/25/12.

SB 75: Revising the determination of fees that may be charged for certain public records/copies.
Status: Introduced 1/23/12. Referred to Senate Local Government. Set for hearing 1/30/12. Re-set for hearing 2/1/12. Re-set for hearing 2/6/12. Passed Senate Local Government committee as amended (5-2) 2/8/12. Referred to Senate floor. Amended to prohibit charging fees for electronic transfer of certain minutes. Passed Senate (29-5) 2/13/12. Referred to House Local Government. Re-heard in Local Government; Passed (9-1) 2/23/12. Passed House (67-2) 2/27/12. Senate concurs with House amendments (30-0) 2/29/12. Signed by Governor 3/16/12.

SB 95: Modify the distribution of the revenue received from the state’s wind energy tax fund.
Status: Introduced 1/23/12. Referred to Senate Taxation. Set for hearing 2/6/12. Deferred by Senate Taxation (4-3) 2/9/12. Passed Taxation committee (4-3) 2/13/12. Failed to pass Senate (11-20) 2/14/12.

SB 123: Revising how taxes are calculated and applied to rural electric cooperatives.
Status: Introduced 1/23/12. Referred to Senate Education. Set for hearing 1/30/12. Passed Committee (6-1) 1/30/12. Passed Senate (25-9) 1/31/12. Referred to House State Affairs. Passed committee as amended (10-1) 2/22/12. Passed House as amended (64-2) 2/24/12. Senate concurs with House amendments (31-3) 2/27/12. Signed by Governor 3/12/12.

SB 161: Bill requires that official meetings of a public body held by teleconference must allow the public to listen and participate in the meeting in the same manner as members of the public body. Bill also bans executive sessions by video conference.
Status: Introduced 1/25/12; referred to Senate State Affairs. Set for hearing 2/6/12. Passed Senate State Affairs as amended (9-0) 2/6/12. Passed Senate (34-0) 2/8/12. Referred to House State Affairs. Passed committee as amended (12-0) 2/24/12. Passed House as amended (70-0) 2/28/12. Senate concurs with House amendments (30-0) 2/29/12. Signed by Governor 3/16/12.

SB 170: Bill to reduce contractor’s excise tax rate on new or expanded power production facilities.
Status: Introduced 1/25/12; referred to Senate State Affairs. Set for hearing 2/6/12. Deferred to 41st Legislative Day (7-1) 2/6/12.

SB 179: A bill to authorize the SD Energy Infrastructure Authority to make loans for certain energy development facilities.
Status: Introduced 1/26/12. Referred to Senate State Affairs. Set for hearing 2/6/12. Re-set for hearing 2/10/12. Deferred to the 41st Legislative Day (7-0) 2/10/12.

2012 House Bill Introductions

HB 1111: Revising certain eminent domain procedures as it pertains to railroads and non-governmental entities exercising the right.
Status: Introduced 1/23/12. Referred to House Transportation. Set for hearing 2/7/12. Passed House Transportation as amended (10-3) 2/9/12. Failed to pass House (30-39) 2/13/12. Intent to reconsider filed. Motion to Reconsider Failed (35-35) 2/14/12; bill stands as Failed to pass House.

HB 1113: A bill stating that a government body of the state or other political subdivision may not use its telecommunications systems, electronic devices, office equipment or supplies for the purpose of influencing the election of a candidate or ballot question.
Status: Introduced 1/23/12. Referred to House State Affairs, set for hearing 1/25/12. Amended to clarify the new bill would not apply to use of equipment to provide education to the public on a ballot measure (voice vote). Deferred to 41st Legislative Day (10-2) 1/25/12.

HF 1127: A bill requiring county registers of deeds to record the names of persons who inspect or copy certain records.
Status: Introduced 1/23/12; referred to House Local Government. Set for hearing 2/7/12. Deferred to the 41st Legislative Day (10-0) 2/7/12.

HB 1131: Requiring that notices of public meetings shall be posted, visible, readable and accessible to the public for at least 24 hours prior to the meeting and shall be posted on the entity’s website (if there is one) as well.
Status: Introduced 1/23/12. Referred to House Local Government. Set for hearing 2/2/12. Passed committee (10-1) 2/2/12. Passed House as amended (66-3) 2/6/12. Referred to Senate Local Government; set for hearing 2/13/12. Passed committee (7-0) 2/15/12. Passed Senate as amended (32-0) 2/22/12. House concurs with Senate amendments (67-1) 2/27/12. Signed by Governor 3/2/12.

HB 1148: Prohibiting state employees from making gubernatorial campaign contributions.
Status: Introduced 1/23/12. Referred to House State Affairs. Set for hearing 1/30/12. Deferred to 41st Legislative Day (9-4) 1/30/12.

HB 1179: Prescribing how a state’s attorney shall investigate and enforce the prohibition of spending public funds on ballot measures and how any resulting fines shall be paid.
Status: Introduced 1/23/12. Referred to House Local Government. Set for hearing 2/2/12. Passed House Local Government as amended (13-0) 2/9/12. Referred to House floor. Passed House (68-1) 2/13/12. Referred to Senate Local Government. Passed committee (6-0) 2/22/12. Passed Senate as amended (34-0) 2/27/12. Signed by Governor 3/2/12.

HB 1184: Allowing political subdivisions of the state to keep minutes of executive session; however, such minutes may be reviewed by any member of the governing body of such a political subdivisions.
Status: Introduced 1/23/12. Referred to House Local Government. Set for hearing 2/7/12. Deferred to 41st Legislative Day (7-4) 2/7/12.

HB 1201: A bill allowing tax refunds for certain energy projects and facilities.
Status: Introduced 1/23/12. Referred to House Commerce and Energy. Tabled by committee (13-0) 2/10/12.

HB 1207: Exempt wind farms and other energy facilities located on tribal lands from taxation.
Status: Introduced 1/24/12. Referred to House Taxation. Set for hearing 2/2/12. Deferred to 41st legislative day (10-3) 2/2/12.