This week in the Senate was not as frantic as we skipped committee meetings on Monday because of the weather. Monday was crossover day so all of the bills that originated in the chamber had to be approved by the end of the session.

The House had passed these bills and the Senate acted on the following bills this week.

•HB 1215 passed which required county, city or township website information be kept up to date.

•HB 1255 passed which made the annual appropriation of $500,000 to Conservation Districts for their local projects.

•HB 1258 appropriates $8.125 million from the Volkswagen settlement fund to the states clean air fund which helps pay for replacement of inefficient diesel school busses etc.

•HB 1262 that reimburses certain health care professionals such as doctors, nurses, PA’s and dentists college expenses for recruitment assistance programs for rural communities in our state. The payments are split between the state and the smaller communities of 10,000 populations or less. The professional will agree to work in these communities for three years or more.

•HB 1157 passed and it allows for research to determine if a candidate for office meets the qualifications and those qualifications can be challenged.

•HB1063 passed which revises the provision regarding sexual activity for a fee in which a child under 18 is involved and that child would no longer be charged as a prostitute but would be a “childe in need of supervision.”

•HB 1074 passed, which protects reporters and their confidential sources with the privilege of immunity. We are the 40th state to pass this type of bill and this was one of the governor’s campaign promises.

The Senate passed the following bills and they now go to the House for approval.

•SB116 passed, which provides $1,000,000 for the purpose of needs based funding for students to help them finish college. A student would be able to get $500 to $2,000 per year. The money would have to be matched by the schools.

•SB167 established a legislative study to study the crime of drug addiction and provide alternatives to imprisonment and help determine funding sources. SB66 was a bill for a summer study between the REA’s and municipal electrics over territorial issues passed.

•SB15, which changed many areas in permitting solar and wind farms passed on a close vote.

•SB174 would fund and update the Jameson annex at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. The Annex provides health services for the inmates. An addition had been requested for 5 years, however this request has been scaled back. The upgrade is needed because of the overcrowding when providing services, which is a safety issue for the medical staff.

•SB173 passed which made an appropriation of $5 million to nursing homes over the next 4 years for innovative grants to assist them in implementing ideas to help them efficiently provide services but were unable to because of financial constraints and it also provides $1 million for prenatal care.

•SB176 passed which allows for $500,000 for the governors second century habitat fund. SD just finished its 100th pheasant hunting season and these funds would be used in cooperation with matching funds from groups like the SD Corn Growers, Pheasants Forever and other groups to increase habitat while promoting conservation and the environment on private lands that don’t have commercial hunting.

•SB175 was passed which appropriates $1,845,000 to the Ellsworth Development Authority to acquire property near the base in order to expand and update its territory to accommodate the new bombers. Ellsworth, which greatly helps our state economy, spends $1,000,000 each day and the Feds match $3 for every $1 we spend in development.

The caucus has been very busy as we pour over and discusses the revenues (taxes, fees and grants) and how we can fairly and efficiently fund the needs of our state. The main theme has been to prioritize our nursing homes and community service providers, which are struggling primarily because of inadequate funding for Medicaid.

Wednesday the Senate Ag Committee passed the Hemp bill to the Senate floor. It will be for debate and a vote by the Senate this week. There were several other bills that were acted on but these were the main ones. I encourage you to go online to http://sdlegislature.gov/ to see all of the bills and look at the written version or listen to them as they have a recording attached to them that includes all of the testimony and votes.

I appreciate your continued support. Please contact me with any question or concerns at rockyblare@gmail.com.