Sen. Kevin Jensen

Maddy summaryThis bill is a legislative commemoration honoring the 2025-2026 Canton C-Hawks boys wrestling team for their athletic achievements. It formally recognizes the team's ninth consecutive state championship win in Region 2B and lists the individual wrestlers and coaches who contributed to their success. The resolution serves as an official acknowledgment by the South Dakota Legislature of the team's accomplishments and community support.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a legislative commemoration honoring Jeremy Ask, the wrestling coach at Canton C-Hawks in South Dakota. It recognizes his achievements as a two-time state champion wrestler and highlights his coaching milestones, including becoming the first coach in state history to lead both girls and boys teams to state championships in the same year. The resolution formally acknowledges his contributions to high school wrestling in Canton and South Dakota through the 101st Legislature. No new laws or policies are enacted; the bill serves solely as an official recognition of his accomplishments.

Maddy summarySJR 508 proposes amending South Dakota's constitution to remove the lieutenant governor's role as presiding officer of the Senate. If approved by voters, the lieutenant governor would no longer serve as Senate president (currently outlined in Article IV, Section 5), though they would retain other duties delegated by the governor. The bill also repeals a related constitutional provision (Article XVI, Section 6) regarding the lieutenant governor's role in gubernatorial impeachment trials. This change would require voters to approve the constitutional amendment at the next general election. The amendment directly affects the lieutenant governor's official duties and Senate procedural rules.

Maddy summarySouth Dakota's SB 122 creates a legal duty for people present during emergencies to assist others at risk of serious injury, by attempting to contact law enforcement or medical help if safely possible. This duty applies to ordinary citizens, not professionals like EMTs or police who are already paid for their services. Violating this duty is a Class 2 misdemeanor, a minor criminal offense. The bill also provides legal immunity from civil lawsuits for unpaid helpers who act reasonably, but not for those receiving compensation for their assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a legislative commemoration that formally recognizes the achievements of the 2025-2026 Canton C-Hawk girls wrestling team. It highlights their success in winning the Region 2 regional tournament for the second consecutive year and notes that thirteen team members qualified for the state tournament. The resolution specifically acknowledges two state championship wins by Brooke Warejcka and Finley Evjen, along with the contributions of the coaching staff. This type of bill serves as an official record of the team's accomplishments rather than creating new laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1065 would require individuals facing cannabis-related charges to possess a registry identification card to use a legal defense claiming they are permitted to possess cannabis. Currently, South Dakota law does not mandate this card for such defenses, but the bill would amend § 34-20G-53 to make it a requirement. This change would directly affect people charged with cannabis offenses who attempt to rely on this specific defense in court. The bill creates a new condition for accessing this defense, requiring the card as a prerequisite for its use.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit South Dakota governments from using eminent domain to transfer private property to private companies or non-governmental entities solely for economic development or increased tax revenue. It would require any property transfer to serve a clear public purpose, such as infrastructure or public services, rather than benefiting private interests. The amendment would apply to all state and local government actions involving property takings and must be approved by voters at the next general election. If adopted, it would change how governments can acquire property for development projects.

Maddy summarySB 93 prohibits state employees who approve, award, or administer state contracts from working for the organizations that received those contracts after leaving state service. For contracts under $1 million, this creates a one-year waiting period; for contracts over $1 million, it extends to two years. The bill allows exceptions if a governing body authorizes the arrangement through written disclosure and approval, ensuring the arrangement is fair and in the public interest. This applies to employees handling contracts within their official duties, excluding unpaid or per diem roles.

Maddy summarySouth Dakota's Senate Joint Resolution 502 is a state application to the U.S. Congress seeking to trigger a constitutional convention under Article V. It requests Congress call a convention specifically to propose an amendment fixing the U.S. Supreme Court's composition at one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. This resolution does not change the Court's current size (nine justices total) but formally asks Congress to begin the process for a constitutional amendment. The application is a procedural step intended to be part of a broader effort requiring support from two-thirds of state legislatures to proceed.

Maddy summaryHB 1067 creates a legal presumption in South Dakota that joint physical custody (approximately equal time with both parents) is in the best interest of a minor child for initial custody decisions. This means courts must assume joint custody is appropriate unless evidence shows it would harm the child, based on factors like parental cooperation or the child's needs. The bill directly affects parents involved in custody disputes by shifting the starting point for court decisions toward shared parenting. It defines joint physical custody as roughly equal time-sharing agreed upon by parents or ordered by a court, and repeals a prior section that handled custody determinations. Courts must still make written findings about the child's best interests.