We have one week left and I am excited to wrap up session and go home to my family. I feel like the last part of the session, every year, reveals the most important issues. The Senate, House, and Executive branch always find a way to come together but we all must give a little to get to that point. I will highlight some of the most important issues that we have finalized or are finalizing.

Tax cuts We have several proposals and vehicle bills floating around. We know that many want to cut taxes at the sound of about 80-100 million dollars each year. The grocery sales tax cut has been eliminated from the possibilities, but the Governor is still applying pressure on this. There is a possibility that a vehicle bill could be amended to support this, but I feel this is highly unlikely.

The sales tax cut, from 4.5 to 4.3% is also still on the table. There is a 2-year sunset clause idea floating in the Senate. We know that our long-term care facilities are closing, and we are anticipating the next 5 years to be much harder due to inflation and other economic concerns. This idea is the priority for the House right now. The House does not want to have a sunset clause. The senate would like a sunset clause if this went forward.

Owner occupied property tax is the Senate’s top priority. This would give a check to each homeowner each year. If the check was $300 each year, it would equate to about 80 million back to South Dakotans. We also have been thinking of $425 each year to homeowners. This tax cut is beneficial because it would only be South Dakotans who would get the break. Sales tax and food tax cuts would help anyone in the state, even non-residents.

Pro-life law We were unable to create any further clarification in our trigger laws nor were we able to bring forward any health of the mother exceptions. I want moms to be healthy so they can continue to grow families and be a present caretaker of their children. I don’t want moms to have their life threatened because SD law is too strict. I was very disappointed that SD Right to Life did not approve of a health of the mother exception. I will continue to try to work with them, but I also know that we may have to work without them in the next year if they don’t come on board. Without moms, we don’t have babies or families. I have an A prolife rating, and I am telling you all – we need to bring legislation forward next year.

We have a proposed constitutional amendment for 2024 that will allow full on abortion through all trimesters. If you are prolife, we need to defeat this measure. Please contact me if you want to help work on this in the next year.

Special one-time appropriations I will update you all on this at the end. We have a lot dedicated to forestry, airports, railroad, suicide prevention, and inflationary costs. I anticipate that we will have money next year as well, but not near as much. Eventually, we will have very little in one-time spending to discuss.

Thank you again for allowing me to represent District 21. Please reach out at erin.tobin@sdlegislture. gov and put District 21 in the subject line.

Warm regards, Senator Tobin