Week 4 Senator Tom Pischke

SD Senate – District 25

            The 4th week of the 2024 Legislative Session completed on February 2nd.  At this point, every piece of legislation has now been introduced and has a number.  We ended up with 258 bills introduced in the House and 220 bills in the Senate.  In South Dakota, every introduced bill gets a hearing in a committee, so our committees will be very busy for the next couple weeks.

            This last week, we debated many pieces of legislation, but one that I found particular interest in was SB 167 which was a proposed change to limit the annual valuation increases on owner-occupied single-family dwellings.  This legislation would limit the increases of our owner-occupied homes to a maximum of three percent every year.  Now while this may sound great for everyone that only has their home to worry about for property taxes, this would hurt everyone else that owns commercial property, non-owner-occupied homes (rental property) and then also agricultural land.  When this happens, business owners end up passing that cost onto us, the consumers, which makes the price of their products more expenses.  Plus, it makes harder for our farmers because their property taxes would increase too.  This legislation, even though presented as a tax-cut, was actually a tax-shift.  Over time, it would have shifted the property tax burden gradually off owner-occupied properties and more onto commercial properties and agricultural land.  Furthermore, it was a violation of Article 11, Section 2 of the South Constitution that states the burden of property taxes must be equitable upon all property.  This legislation was defeated on the Senate floor on a 11 to 20 vote.

            As always, if you are interested in following along with any of our committees or chambers this session, there are two great ways to do that.  First, visit www.sdlegislature.gov as this is the Legislature's home page where you can find any information about session that you are looking for.  On the front page you will find a schedule of committees and when the House and Senate will be meeting and what's on the agenda for each meeting.  You can also find listings of all the bills that we will be working on this session.  Additionally, if you want to listen into a committee or chamber you can click on the South Dakota Public Broadcasting icon next to that scheduled meeting to listen live.  The Second way to listen and watch is to visit www.SD.Net where you can find all the live audio from the committees and the live audio and video streams from the House and Senate Chambers.

            Finally, if you have any questions about how to find information about a bill or committee, or any questions at all about session please contact me.  I can be reached most anytime by phone at 605-999-2948 and by email at .  If you do call and I’m unable to answer, try sending me a text and I will call you back later.  Additionally, if you email, please include that you are from District 25 and what town you're from.  We get 100s of emails a day and I cannot reply to them all, but if I know that you are from our district, I will get back to you!  Lastly, if you are planning a trip up to the Capitol for a visit during session, please let me know so that we can find a time to meet up while you are here!  Have a great week and God Bless!

- Sen. Tom Pischke

Week 4 2024 Legislature Report: 25th District Representative Randy Gross

Wednesday, January 31 was the last day for individual bill introduction.  February 21 is crossover day meaning any bill not passed in its house of origin (House or Senate) by that date will not move on for consideration. The next few legislative days will see lots of bills work their way through committees.

Several CO2 pipeline related bills are in process.  I am monitoring and working with sponsors of some of the bills and will continue to work on behalf of my constituents.  With his permission, below are comments written by my fellow legislator John Mills.  John makes valuable points, worth sharing, regarding eminent domain and CO2.

“A number of bills on this topic are emerging.  My favorite so far is HB1190.  This bill does two main things.  First, it collects and lists in one place all of the entities who currently can use eminent domain.  It’s a long list.  Second and perhaps most important it clearly defines the term “public use”.  The bill lists out things we would all recognize as being important for public use and therefore needing eminent domain.   Things like roads, power lines, and pipelines for water, natural gas, oil & biofuels are identified.   CO2 is not on the list.  It doesn’t fit the definition of public use.  This bill would not stop the CO2 pipeline, but it would mean they would not be able to take someone’s land without their permission in order to build it.  That seems fair to me.”

“For big changes like allowing a CO2 pipeline, it is often best to pause and wait for new technologies.  This is one of those times.   One new idea was just discovered at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT) in Rapid City.  Amazingly, SDSMT was able to successfully turn CO2 into an aggregate!  Rather than sending CO2 through a dangerous pipeline, how much better it would be to change it into gravel at the point where it is created.  If we do that, we would have a useful product available close to home – and with no dangerous pipeline needed.  So, let’s be patient, adopt a common-sense eminent domain definition, and wait for brilliant minds to find a better way.”

HB1199 seeks to protect stocks, bonds, and mutual funds you hold in an IRA, 401(k), or brokerage account from being used as collateral by a third party. A relatively unknown law acts like a reverse Robinhood robbing from you and giving to large banks. It is a complicated law, but the result of the law is that you do not have full ownership of these assets in some circumstances. You basically have a contract with your broker or wherever your IRA or investment account exists.

If your broker files for bankruptcy the broker’s bank can take your account as collateral for the broker’s loan. This can be done automatically without your consent or even knowing about it.

HB 1199 removes the provisions in current law that put strings on your investments and makes sure that your portfolio can never be used as collateral for a loan taken out by your broker or anyone else.  If you want your property rights protected ask your legislators to support HB 1199.

Please remember, this is your government, and all citizens are welcome to visit your Capital and testify on bills or simply observe the process.  Information on the content and status of bills is available on the state web site https://sdlegislature.gov. I can be contacted at .