Rep. Steve Duffy

Maddy summarySB 231 creates a Water Infrastructure Development Fund to support rural water projects in South Dakota. The fund, initially seeded with $3 million from the state general fund (Section 2), provides grants (up to 10% of project costs) and loans (up to 50% of project costs) managed by the Board of Water and Natural Resources (Section 1). It directly affects rural communities needing upgrades to water infrastructure, such as new systems or repairs. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon passage (Section 3).

Maddy summaryHB 1215 allows South Dakota counties and municipalities to issue licenses for cigar bars, directly affecting business owners seeking to operate such establishments and local governments responsible for licensing. The bill requires cigar bars to have a humidor, be fully enclosed with proper ventilation, generate at least 10% of income from cigar sales, and prohibit all tobacco products except cigars. Local governments must hold public hearings for applications and report annual cigar sales income to the Department of Revenue, while also posting clear smoking restrictions. The law explicitly excludes these venues from other liquor license limits and prohibits transferring licenses to new owners.

Maddy summarySouth Dakota's SB 60 restricts ownership of land within 10 miles of military bases by entities designated as "prohibited" under state law. It requires these entities to sell any existing property in the "restricted zone" within two years (or three years if inherited) and bans new ownership or control of such property. The law mandates that property buyers sign an affidavit confirming compliance, and the Attorney General can enforce violations through court actions to forfeit non-compliant property. This bill directly affects property owners and investors near military installations, with enforcement focused on compliance rather than new regulations.

Maddy summarySB 130 appropriates $8 million from South Dakota's general fund to the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority. The funds must cover public roadway and infrastructure improvements directly needed due to construction at Ellsworth Air Force Base, including road reconstruction, safety upgrades, and traffic studies. The authority must report annually on how funds were used and cannot spend more than 3% of the appropriation on administrative costs. This bill specifically affects infrastructure supporting Ellsworth Air Force Base operations and surrounding public roads.

Maddy summarySB 98 requires operators of virtual currency kiosks in South Dakota to obtain a license under existing financial regulations (Chapter 51A-17). It mandates detailed reporting to the state, including transaction volumes, user complaints, refund requests, and suspicious activity. The bill also requires kiosk operators to provide users with receipts containing transaction details, exchange rates, virtual currency addresses, and refund policies. These provisions directly affect kiosk operators (licensees) and users engaging in virtual currency transactions at these locations. The law aims to increase transparency and accountability in virtual currency kiosk operations.

Maddy summarySB 36 requires electric utilities and wholesale electricity generators in South Dakota to develop and submit wildfire mitigation plans to either the Public Utilities Commission or their local governing body (like a city council). These plans must include specific strategies for risk assessment, infrastructure inspections, vegetation management, and community outreach to reduce wildfire risks. Utilities must also submit annual compliance reports by April 1st each year, with filing fees of $500 for initial plans and $250 for reports. The bill establishes a standardized process for these plans and reports but does not specify liability protections beyond the plan requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1238 allows South Dakota financial institutions to delay or block specific transactions when they reasonably suspect financial exploitation of consenting adults aged 65+ (seniors) or adults aged 18+ with mental impairments or court-appointed guardians (vulnerable adults). The law permits banks to refuse transfers, withdrawals, ownership changes, beneficiary updates, or power-of-attorney instructions if exploitation is suspected. Financial institutions are protected from liability for acting under this law, though they are not required to intervene - decisions are based on available information. This directly affects banks and the vulnerable adults they serve by providing a legal framework to prevent financial abuse.

Maddy summarySB 197 amends South Dakota law to transfer administration of the South Dakota-Ireland Trade Fund from the Legislative Research Council's Executive Board to the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The fund, which supports the South Dakota-Ireland Trade Commission's activities like promoting trade between South Dakota and Ireland, consists of donations, grants, and interest earned. This bill changes only the managing agency - no policy or funding changes are made to the fund's purpose or sources. The amendment clarifies that the Department of Agriculture will handle the fund's administrative expenses and disbursements.

Maddy summaryHB 1035 clarifies definitions for public accountant licensure in South Dakota by amending Section 36-20B-1 of the state code. The bill updates terms like "Owner" (to include nonlicensees in CPA firms), "Peer review," and "Principal place of business" to better reflect current practice standards. It directly affects licensed public accountants, CPA firms, and the South Dakota Board of Accountancy by standardizing terminology used in licensing rules. This is a procedural amendment focused solely on definition clarity, not new requirements or fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces property taxes for homeowners by lowering the mill levy rate on owner-occupied single-family homes from $5.21 to $20.51 per $1,000 of taxable value (with the exact figure clarified in the bill text). It simultaneously raises the state sales tax from 4.2% to 4.7% for 2026-2027 and to 5% after 2027, and expands the gross receipts tax to cover more services like dry cleaning, beauty shops, and rentals. The revenue from these tax increases is explicitly allocated to replace lost school district property tax revenue and fund pay raises for state and school employees. The bill ensures school districts maintain their total funding levels under the new system.