Senate Report

AUGUST LEGISLATIVE REPORT:

Let me start this report by expressing thank you to everyone in South Dakota’s workforce! Our South Dakota hard work and commitment to a job well done, continues to make South Dakota the great state it is! And District 23, with our rural roots, exemplifies the awesome reputation of a high-quality workforce in demand throughout the nation. I hope that everyone had a safe and enjoyable Labor Day celebration!

Labor Day also officially marks the end of the summer, the fall season is upon us! As with many years, this summer seems to have gone by entirely too quickly. Even though the legislature is not in session, there continues to be many meetings.

In Appropriations, we heard several reports, but of most interest are the Dept. of Corrections pay increases at the state penitentiaries where open positions are approaching 25% of the positions, and plans to improve employee culture, morale and engagement. Also, the report from the Dept. of Transportation and the new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. SD will receive money spread over the next five years in three areas of focus. 1) Protection – designed around water protection and bridge replacements - $50.5M over five years, 2) Electric Vehicles – designed around interstate corridor compliance so that charging stations are no longer than every 50 miles apart, grants will be offered to stations interested - $24.5M over five years, and 3) Carbon Reduction – designed around intelligent transportation systems and recycled materials in road projects – $44.5M over five years.

On the Regional Jails and State Corrections Plan Summer Study, we took testimony from Minnehaha, Clay, Bon Homme, and Brown counties, as well as the County Commission Association. Also presented were the various ways counties could fund capital projects, take out a bond, partner in a compact, or partner in an authority. We have one meeting left where we should coalesce around some legislative policy. Discussion was held on how Counties could support lighter level state inmates, a process for a grant/revolving loan fund for county jails, and incentives the state can offer for counties to re-organize and cooperatively work to reduce expenses for local tax reductions.

The Long-Term Care reimbursement task force has one meeting left tasked with making South Dakota consistent with federal requirements for the parameters of reimbursement of nursing homes for the Medicaid program. We have had good discussion about the state of this industry and the challenges of caring for our elderly.

We are just kicking off the In-Home Care reimbursement taskforce. Similar to the long-term care taskforce, this is a routine taskforce entrusted with staying in compliance with federal regulations.

South Dakota has two carbon pipelines that have filed application with the Public Utilities Commission. Summit starts in Iowa and makes its way through South Dakota to North Dakota where the carbon is piped one mile underground beneath a granite capstone. Navigator starts in South Dakota and transports carbon through Iowa to Illinois where the carbon is deposited. I have participated in numerous landowner and private education sessions with discussions about the pipeline, impacts on landowner rights, safety, and mitigation plans. Also, I recently attended the tour of Glacial Lakes Energy ethanol plant near Mina to learn more about the ethanol industry and its impact on the South Dakota economy. There is a group of legislators who are continuing to work on various legislative ideas to limit eminent domain, increase safety requirements, improve landowners’ easement rights, and various other topics.

I have attended various other educational events on workforce education, the importance of logging to the Black Hills and South Dakota and enjoyed the conversations at the fairs this summer.

As always, I can be reached at bryan.breitling@ sdlegislature.gov. I look forward to continued conversations!