Rep. Erin Healy

Maddy summaryHB 1225 is a procedural resolution with no concrete policy provisions. It merely states in Section 1: "The Legislature shall enhance the future of education in South Dakota," without specifying any mechanisms, funding, programs, or affected parties. The bill contains no actionable requirements or changes to existing law. As a non-substantive resolution, it does not implement any tangible education policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1276 establishes strict rules for using solitary confinement in South Dakota's juvenile facilities. It prohibits solitary confinement for discipline, punishment, or convenience - allowing it only when a juvenile poses an immediate risk of physical harm to self or others. The bill requires facilities to first try less restrictive methods, get approval from a facility leader, and form an interdisciplinary team (including mental health staff and administrators) to review cases within 24 hours and reassess weekly if confinement lasts more than seven days. Facilities must document all cases, provide continuous monitoring (every 15 minutes in-person), ensure access to basic needs like medical care and education, and notify parents within one business day. This applies directly to all juveniles held in state-operated juvenile facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1205 amends South Dakota's formula for calculating state aid to school districts for general and special education funding. It updates key definitions, including how "fall enrollment" is calculated (subtracting certain tuition-receiving students and adding those for whom the district pays tuition) and revises the target teacher ratio factor based on district size. The bill also establishes a new method for calculating target teacher compensation, linking it to the consumer price index and requiring annual adjustments. This directly affects all South Dakota public school districts receiving state education funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1281 reduces sales and use tax rates on non-prepared food (like groceries) for consumers while increasing tax rates on other items, including certain excise taxes and use taxes. The bill establishes a new fund specifically for school district capital projects, such as building construction or major equipment purchases. It defines "food" to exclude prepared meals (e.g., restaurant takeout), alcohol, tobacco, and candy, ensuring the tax cut applies only to basic grocery items. The policy shifts tax burden from grocery shoppers to other taxable goods and services to finance school infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 1301 requires large data centers (those with 20+ megawatts peak demand) in South Dakota to pay the full cost of electricity infrastructure upgrades they necessitate, including decommissioning expenses, and prohibits shifting these costs to other utility customers. Key provisions include mandating that data centers submit annual reports detailing their energy use, infrastructure needs, and renewable energy commitments, and requiring electric utilities to publish annual reports on large data center load forecasts and associated costs. The bill effectively imposes a moratorium on new large data center projects until these reporting and cost-sharing requirements are met. It directly affects large data center operators and electric utilities, ensuring they bear their own infrastructure and decommissioning costs without burdening other retail customers.

Maddy summaryHB 1273 revises definitions and clarifies rules for "life of the mine permits" in South Dakota's mining law. It specifically defines how mining operators can temporarily pause operations (up to 180 days with notice) and extend pauses up to 10 years total, provided they submit plans for resuming work and maintain reclamation measures. This affects mining companies operating under these permits and the Board of Minerals and Environment, which oversees the process. The bill focuses on procedural clarity for permit management without introducing new environmental or financial requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1117 modifies the reporting requirements for the Governor's Office of Economic Development regarding certain awards and grants from South Dakota's "Employer's Investment in South Dakota's Future Fund." The bill changes the frequency of the report from "biannual" to "twice each year," requiring the office to submit the same detailed report to specified legislative committees twice yearly instead of less frequently. The report must include recipient names, locations, funding purposes, economic impact measures, job creation numbers, fund balances, and status updates for awards/grants made over the past 20 years. This change affects the Governor's Office of Economic Development by altering how often it must provide these transparency reports to legislative committees. The bill does not alter the content or scope of the required information.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 148) ends state funding for bounties paid to control wildlife that preys on bird nests. Specifically, it amends two laws (§ 40-36-9 and § 41-2-35) to prohibit using state funds from the Game, Fish and Parks department or animal damage control fund for bounties on animals like badgers, raccoons, skunks, or foxes when the purpose is nest predation control. The change directly affects how the Department of Game, Fish and Parks allocates its budget, stopping a specific funding mechanism for wildlife management. It does not alter wildlife management practices or create new programs - only removes authorization for this type of bounty payment.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 6012) is a symbolic gesture honoring the YMCA's 175th anniversary of service across the United States and in South Dakota. It recognizes the YMCA's historical contributions, including founding basketball, providing childcare, and serving over 17 million people annually through programs for youth, families, and communities. The resolution specifically acknowledges South Dakota's YMCA chapters, which serve nearly the entire state with 1,274 staff and 1,000 volunteers. The bill does not create new laws or alter policies; it solely expresses legislative appreciation for the YMCA's community impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1216 updates South Dakota's list of professionals required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. It adds "religious healing practitioner" and "safety-sensitive position" (as defined in another law) to the existing list, which already includes doctors, teachers, social workers, and clergy. The bill also clarifies that confidentiality protections (like those for medical or therapy records) cannot be used to avoid legal consequences when reporting abuse under these statutes. This directly affects the new categories of professionals and religious practitioners who must now report suspected cases, while removing legal barriers to using such reports in court.