This week, week 4, was the longest week of the SD legislature – 5 days. Many bills were heard and debated this week and I feel good about the forward progress of the Legislature this last week. Here are some highlights.

Protection of Law enforcement SB 48 Is an act to enhance the penalty for attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement officer. We need to do all that we can to protect our law enforcement and attempted murder of the first degree should be a severe penalty. This crime was upped from a class 2 felony to a class 1 felony. This passed through the Senate unanimously and will go to the House.

Strengthening Election Laws SB 82 An act to modify provisions pertaining to poll watchers. This will place poll watchers at a 4-6 ft distance from those counting ballots. The people who provide these services on election day are volunteers and the day is often very long. We want to keep these people safe and make sure no one is putting unnecessary pressure on them. This passed through the Senate unanimously and will go to the House.

Strengthening Children and Families SB 75 An act to revise provisions related to parental support for expenses related to pregnancy and childbirth. For a child born out of wedlock, this bill puts responsibility on both parents to help pay for pregnancy and prenatal care, labor and delivery of the child, and postpartum recovery and major complications arising from pregnancy. This is extremely important as it takes two to bring a child into this world and those two should share the responsibility of the initial medical expenses that arise from their child. This was passed unanimously out of the Senate and will move to the House.

SB 70 An act to revise provisions related to courtroom modifications for child witnesses. If the child would suffer substantial emotional distress that would impair the ability of the child to communicate, the jury and anyone else who is not necessary in the room may be removed from the room and it would be televised via closed tv connection.

Cutting taxes HB 1034 An act to modify tax refunds for elderly persons and persons with a disability, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency. This allows for a tax refund, on a sliding scale basis dependent upon income. This has passed the Senate and the House and will move to the Governor’s desk for signature.

Spending Bills SB 12 An act to authorize the construction of a National Guard vehicle maintenance shop in Watertown, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency. This bill authorizes 29 million in federal funds to be spent for the construction of this vehicle maintenance shop. This has passed out of the Senate.

SB 13 An act to authorize the construction of an addition to the BG Dean Mann Readiness Center in Sioux Falls, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency. This bill authorizes 6 million in federal dollars to be spent for this project. This has passed out of the Senate.

SB 14 An act to revise the legal description for the construction of a National Guard Readiness Center in Sioux Falls, make an additional appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency. This bill authorizes and appropriates 2 million in federal funds and 667 thousand dollars from the general fund to design and construct this readiness center in Sioux Falls. This has passed out of the Senate.

HB 1044 an act to establish scholarships for individuals pursuing careers in the behavioral health field, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency. This will put 20 million general fund dollars into a trust to create scholarships for behavioral health workforce. This has passed House Health and moved to joint appropriations.

Looking forward We have many more election integrity bills coming forward. I have one bill, HB 1114, which will allow for a partisan recount board in primary elections. This has passed the House and is now to be heard in Senate State Affairs.

In Senate Health and Human Services this week, we will hear SB 130 which would allow a philosophical exemption for school age immunizations (Monday). We will also hear HB 1080 this week which prevents surgical intervention and puberty blockers in transgender minors. Another important bill this week, my bill SB 175, is a bill to allow Physician assistants to practice at the highest level of their education and training (Wednesday).

We will also see SB 3 and SB 4 hopefully move forward through the legislative process in order to help communicate with our education system and get juveniles the services they need.

Thank you for allowing me to serve District 21 and please reach out with any questions or concerns. Erin. tobin@sdlegislature.gov