The Majority Report

south dakota Republican Party February 5, 2021

Appropriations Update | See INside

Top of the Week Session by the numbers

Dakota Event
Complex Heads to
Legisators are in good spirits
as LEgislative work is quickly
progressing in week 4.
2
Appropriations Bills Signed

By Sydney Powers, Legislative

Communications Director
Senate Agriculture & Natural
Resources heard Senate Bill 99
on Tuesday. SB 99 creates the
new proposed Dakota Event
Complex, or DEX, at the State
Fairgrounds.
The DEX would replace the
Beef Complex, which burned
down in a fire caused by a elec-
trical cord on a fridge on Hal-
loween 2020.
Proponents included Lt. Gov-
ernor Larry Rhoden, Ag De-
partment Secretary Hunter
Roberts, South Dakota Farm
Bureau, SD Cattlemen’s Asso-
ciation, SD Farmers Union, Rep.
Roger Chase, SD Association
of Co-ops, and former Sen. Jim
White.
The old beef complex was a place
where many South Dakotans
have fond memories of. But out
of disaster comes opportunity.
The new facility will be heated,
utilized throughout the year, and
hopefully draw in more more
events such as national rodeos
February 5th: Republican Day at the Capitol!
or livestock events.
At 200,000 square feet, the pro-
posed building will also replace
the Sheep Barn, which is past its
date of expiration, according to
Hunter Roberts.
In their appropriation request,
the Department of Agricuture’s
plans are to also renovate the
4-H Livestock Complex. The
request is for the legislature to
February 23rd: Concurrent resolution requests due to LRC by
4
Bills Withdrawn
76
Bills introduced with an
Emergency Clause
Statistics as of 1/5 according to the SD
Legislative Research Council at
sdlegislature.org.
allocate $12 million in one-time
funds to cover part of the $19
million project, which will be
ready by State Fair 2022.
The measure was then sent to
the Appropriations Committee
for further consideration.

Upcoming Dates February 6th: SDGOP State Central Committee Meeting

February 11th: Last day for JCA selection of general fund
5:00pm, and Last day to use J.R. 5-17
February 24th: Last day to move required delivery of bills or

& Deadlines revenue targets resolutions by a committee to the house of origin

February 25th: Crossover Day
February 5, 2021
Page 2
Chairman’s Letter
The South Dakota Repub-
lican Party is having a busy
week, as Republican Wom-
en had their annual event in
Pierre with Governor Kristi
Noem, the Second annu-
al Republican Day at the
Capitol will be in full swing
by the time you read this on
Friday, and the Republican
State Central Committee
will meet this Saturday to
elect oficers for the coming
election cycle.
I’d like to inivite you to all
events, as well as the New
Member Reception the
Party is hosting on Friday
Night at the Sandbar at
AmericaInn (Ft. Pierre) on
Friday from 5-7pm.
It’s a great way to connect
with Republicans from
across the state who get
out and get our candidates
elected.
I look forward to seeing
you this week in Pierre, and
I hope we can enjoy your
company.
Sincerely,
Chairman
South Dakota Republican
Party.
Licensure Reciprocity Bill Passes
House, Heads to Senate Commerce
House Bill 1077 has passed the House
floor and now heads to Senate Com-
merce & Energy. Titled “An Act to
provide for licensure by endorsement
for certain licensed professionals and
occupations,” HB 1077 is one of Gov-
ernor Kristi Noem’s priorities this
session. The bill would make tempo-
rary licensure flexibilities permanent
for multiple professions.
HB 1077 was heard in House State
Affairs last Wednesday and passed
unanimously. On Monday, bill spon-
sor Majority Leader Rep. Kent Peter-
son amended the bill to add in certi-
fied professional midwives to the list
of professions licensure reciprocity
At the start of the pandemic, Gover-
nor Noem signed Executive Order
2020-25 to provide these flexibilities
for certain professions in order to
keep our state open by reducing reg-
ulations.
The affected professions include phy-
sician assistants, RNs, pharmacists,
certified nurse practitioners, social
Appropriations Update:
Re-allocation of Obligation Recovery center fees, Department of
Human Services provided funds to bring down outdated building
All the one-time funding makes
huge work for our Republican
appropriators. With big money to
spend, everyone wants a piece of
the pie. But it is up to the Joint Ap-
propriations Committee to decide
who gets how much and for what
purpose.
Up till now, committee members
have been listening to budget
hearings from multiple depart-
ments. On Thursday, they finally
began to hear legislation.
On the Senate side of Appropria-
tions, SB 59 was heard at the re-
quest of the Bureau of Adminis-
tration. This bill would “revise the
allocation of fees collected by the
workers, physical therapists, and oth-
er licensed practitioners as outlined
in the bill. An amendment was added
in House State Affairs to expand rec-
iprocity to funeral directors, athletic
trainers, and behavioral analysts.
In order to receive licensure flexibil-
ities in South Dakota, the applicant
must be in good standing, receive
their license in a state with stringent
requirements, and pay their fees to
the licensure board.
Though the individual would work in
South Dakota and have their out-of-
state license recognized by the state,
they would not have to be a resident.
If signed into law, the temporary mea-
sure taken by the Governor would be
permanent and extend to more pro-
obligation recovery center and to
revise certain venue, jurisdiction,
and collection efforts regarding
the co-owners of titled motor ve-
hicles, motorcycles, and boats.” It
passed 8-1.
The other bill was SB 36, a bill to
allow the Department of Human
Services to demolish Dakota Hall
at the South Dakota Development
Center in Redfield, SD. That allo-
cation is $794,645. It passed 6-0
with a do pass recommendation.
HB 1013 was heard by the House
Appropriations. The bill passed
unanimously. It gives the Depart-
ment of Revenue $450,000 to give
refunds on property and sales tax-
fessions.
“This bill ensures that we are not re-
stricting mobility of professions just
because of the state they’re licensed
in,” Governor’s Office Senior Policy
Advisor Melissa Klemann said.
Proponents included Americans for
Prosperity, SD Academy of Physician
Assistants, Sanford Health, Avera,
and SDAHO. There was no opponent
testimony.
Proponents say it will ease issues
such a hiring across state lines and
increasing availability to services and
products needed in our fight against
the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill
answers concerns about hiring pro-
fessionals for rural areas and has
enough safeguards in place to ensure
those hired are of the same or higher
quality as South Dakota licensed pro-
fessionals.
The bill passed on the House floor, 67-
3, and will be heard in Senate Com-
merce and Energy later this session.
es for the elderly and those with
disabilities.
HB 1039, “An Act to make an
appropriation for costs related
to suppression of wildfires in the
state and to declare an emergen-
cy,” was the last bill heard Thurs-
day. It gives $973,514 to a “state
fire suppression special revenue
fund” run by the Department of
Agriculture. It passed 8-0.
Friday morning, the House and
Senate rejoined to hear from the
Unified Judicial System, and next
week, we can expect to see more
discussion on appropriation bills
as we get closer to Crossover Day.

Death Penalty Bill Passes Committee
Senator Art Rusch’s (R-Vermil-
lion) bill to limit the applica-
tion of the death penalty was
heard twice in Senate Judiciary
this week, pending the comple-
tion of a prison cost estimate.
Rusch’s bill would limit the use
of the death penalty to cases
only in which the victim is law
enforcement, a correctional
employee, or firefighter and is
on duty. He shared his person-
al experience presiding over a
death penalty case and subse-
quent reflection.
But from another view, Rusch
said that the cost of the death
penalty is excessive as defen-
dants are likely to exhaust all
possible appeals, a process
which can take more than a
decade and cost millions for
counties.
“If you have a defendant who
fights his convictions, there
will be many years of court
costs. …The only way that
punishment is a deterrent is
that punishment is quick and
certain,” Rusch told the com-
mittee.
He also argued that the psy-
chological impact the trial has
on the jury and court staff is
too intense. Rusch said that in
recent history we are utilizing
the death penalty at a higher
INtern Spotlight:
rate.
Other proponent testimony
included a USD political sci-
ence professor, SD Association
of Criminal Defense Lawyers,
The South Dakota Catholic
Conference, and a death row
exoneree.
In total, South Dakota has exe-
cuted 20 individuals, one who
was innocent and several who
were denied appeals. Attorney
General Jason Ravnsborg stat-
ed that under this bill, only 4
would have been executed.
Ravnsborg spoke in opposi-
tion of the bill, listing off the
names of the death row in-
mates, their crimes, and their
victims. He rejected the idea
that South Dakota sentences
innocent people to death.
“This bill would effectively re-
peal the death penalty,” Ravns-
borg said. He told the commit-
Vanessa is a Senior at the
University of Sioux Falls, majoring
in Business Administration. She
serves Senators Schoenbeck,
Crabtree, and Steinhauer.
tee that SB 98 would remove
9 out of 10 circumstances in
which a judge or jury can con-
sider a death row sentence.
Ravnsborg called this move a
slippery slope leading to dan-
gerous criminals being eligible
for parole and re-entry into so-
ciety.
He stated that the cost is very
comparable and is not what the
proponents stated. And while
some jurors may experience
nervous breakdowns, that is
due to the horrendous nature
of the case and that many ju-
rors do not experience this,
Ravnsborg stated.
Other opponents included the
State’s Attorney Association.
The committee adjourned till
the prison cost estimate was
released, stating the cost was
not readily discernible.
When the committee next met,
Sen. Lee Schoenbeck (R-Wa-
tertown) moved that the bill
“do pass,” stating that limited
government and pro-life con-
servatives should support this
bill and looked forward to
floor debate.
The committee sided with Sen.
Rusch, voting 5-1, and the bill
now heads to the Senate floor.
Senate Republican Intern Vanessa Tschetter
Vanessa served as the President of
USF College Republicans last year
and is staying involved in the GOP.
February 5, 2021
Page 3
Upcoming
Legislation
HB 1243, “An Act to pro-
tect the consumer in South
Dakota,” was introduced
by the House Judiciary on
Wednesday. The bill comes
from the Governor and is
one to watch in the next
few weeks.
SB 44, a bill to “authorize,
regulate, and tax wager-
ing on sporting events
within the city limits of
Deadwood,” was deferred
in Senate State Affairs till
a prison impact statement
could be completed. It was
rescheduled for Friday,
February 5th.
HB 1079, a bill providing
protection of donor infor-
mation, passed the House
62-8, and is assigned
to Senate Commerce &
Energy.
HB 1094, “An Act to revise
certain provisions regard-
ing the municipal zoning
and appeals process,”
awaits a vote on the House
floor after passing House
Local Government.
Eventually, she’d like to
manage a hospital and
maybe even run for the
legislature herself.
February 5, 2021
Page 4

House Rejects Return of Measure
Governor Noem to Remove Governor’s Authority
Introduces to Appoint Legislators
HJR 5002, a resolution submit-
Legislation ting a constitutional amendment
to South Dakota voters to strip
on Price the Governor of her authority to
Transparency in appoint legislators in the case of
a vacancies, had been brought in
Healthcare a previous session, but was once
again rejected by the Legislature.
This week, Governor Kristi Proponents argued that it takes
Noem introduced legislation “the authority away from the of-
to empower South Dako- fice of the Governor to appoint a
ta consumers by providing
them transparent healthcare
costs.
vacancy and it gives that power to
the legislature to set it up via stat-
ute.”
However, Governor Kristi Noem’s
Chief of Staff Tony Venhuizen
spoke in opposition to the resolu-
tion, noting “The current system
for filling legislative vacancies has
worked.” It’s worked well enough
that three members of the House
State Affairs committee were ap-
pointed by a Governor.
Proponents also argued that re-
moving the fractional number of
legislative appointments from the
Governor’s total appointments
would lighten her workload, but
opponents were not swayed.
While House State Affairs com-
mittee sent it to the House Floor,
on an 8-5 vote, the House of Rep-
resentatives later rejected it on a
nearly 2-1 basis.
Finding that the legislation was
largely a solution in search of a
problem, the measure was defeat-
ed on the House floor by a vote of
23-46.

“We know that healthcare

can be expensive. We can
make this burden a little
lighter for consumers by
giving them transparent in-
formation about the cost
of healthcare services,” said
Governor Kristi Noem. “By
empowering consumers
with the knowledge of the
actual cost for planned pro-
cedures, we can give them
the tools they need to plan
their future finances.”

Governor Noem’s legislation:

• Gives consumers the abil-

ity to see in-network and
out-of-network provider
rates for services;
• Provides real-time infor-
mation on consumers’ cost
sharing requirements such
as deductibles, copays, and
information on bundled
services; and
• Gives accurate informa-
tion on the cost of prescrip-
tion drugs.

This information will be

made available to consum- Paid for by the
ers via a website, paper form, South Dakota
email, or by phone. Republican Party
PO Box 1099
Pierre, SD 57501