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Week two of the 101st Legislative Session and the Joint Committee on Appropriations continues with budget hearings. We talked about the growing funding gap that persists in the Community Support Provider (CSP) world. The State has a constitutional obligation to care for those with intellectual and behavioral disabilities, and one way we do that best is through CSPs. They were funded at 100% methodology in 2023, but funding gaps have grown since. With no change from last year there will be a 9.3% delta, which comes to $21.9 million in unreimbursed services- roughly $10.8 million of that being state share.
Read moreWeek two picked up with more committee hearings and bills being heard. There are currently254billsand19resolutionsfiled.We have a lot of work to do. During my 1st term in the legislature, we passed a law banning hostile foreign ownership of ag land in South Dakota,whichIproudlysupported.Thisyear weexpandedonthatconcepttoincludeelectric infrastructure with HB 1049. HB 1049 was vetted in Commerce and Energy Committee, where I serve as the Vice Chair. HB 1049 received a yes vote from all members present in the full chamber. Also, in Commerce and Energy a resolution and a bill pertaining to theuseofcashtransactionswereheard.Isupported the resolution encouraging the use of cashtransactions,butIcouldnotsupportabill forcing small businesses to accept cash. We haveenoughregulationsonsmallbusinesses, and I will not tell you what form of payment you should accept. In State Affairs we heard HB 1102 an act to reschedule the annual report filing date for a limited liability company and a limited liability partnership. Currently LLCs and LLPs report on the anniversary of their filing date. This bill changes the annual reporting to a set schedule where all would take place in the same time frame. If you operate 10 different LLCs or LLPs reporting can be forgotten or late, I believe this bill will streamline that process and save on late fees.
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The Avon Lady Pirates traveled to Canistota on Tuesday, January 13, and came away with a strong 53-22 victory.
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Week 1 of the 101st Legislative Session is already in the books. The drive to Pierre was tough, not because of the roads, but because it meant leaving my family behind. The drive home was tough for the opposite reason: I couldn’t wait to get back, but Mother Nature had other plans, with blistering winds and whiteout conditions.
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We have completed our 1st week of the 101st legislative session. There are almost200billsintroduced already.Iserve ontheCommerceand Energy committee and the State Affairs committeeagainthis year. State Affairs typically covers the hot topic state issues and Commerce and Energy covers a wide variety of issues related to all business happenings, licensing, insurance, utilities, alcohol, tobacco, gaming and much more. I believe the bigger issues we will befacingthissession will be tax incentives fordatacenters, property tax relief and navigating the Rural Health Transformation program. The session kicked off with Governor Rhoden addressing the legislature with his State of the State. Governor Rhoden and his staff secured 189 million in federal funding for Rural Health care. I am excited to see the impact this will have on healthcare in District 19 and other rural districts acrossSouthDakota.Thispast weekend my father, Senator BealwhoservesDistrict12suffered a stroke while at our family ranch in central SD. While I am grateful for the quick responseandcarereceived,we allknowtheimportanceoftime andaccessduringthesecritical moments. Surgery went well; heunderstandsthejobwehave to do and asked I go to Pierre. It was not an easy week considering the family issues going on back home but having our son, Brayden serving as a page helped ease some of the load. This is a wonderful opportunity for youth to be a part of the legislativeprocessanddevelop a better understanding of government. He is one of 7 pages I sponsored this session. The 1st week of session is starting the legislative process, introducing bills, assigning them tocommitteesandeducational briefings. Next week we will get into committee hearings and debating bills. I’d like to thank the many constituents who traveled to Pierre this week with your organizations including : SD Rural Water, SD Veterans Council, FairSD, Dakota Resources, SDREA, and A.B.A.T.E. Like always visiting with you and hearing your concerns is the best part of my week. When reaching out please include our District or your hometown because we receive many emails and I am working for you. It is an absolute honor to serve you. God Bless, Jessica Bahmuller (605)359-9459 Jessica.Bahmuller@sdlegislature. gov
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