PIERRE — South Dakota lawmakers enter Day 32 of the legislative session with the finish line in sight and a packed agenda covering property taxes, voting laws, abortion policy, criminal justice, mining revenue, and broadband expansion.
Committees are weighing proposals to let counties impose a gross receipts tax to cut owner-occupied property taxes, revise restroom and changing room policies, and ban the sale or advertising of items used in unlawful abortions.
Lawmakers are also considering anti-SLAPP protections for free speech, new community safety zone definitions, and changes to how property tax assessments are calculated.
On the floor, the House debates creating a homeowner tax reduction fund, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, and a proposed constitutional amendment removing the lieutenant governor as presiding officer of the Senate.
In the Senate, members consider changing how new precious metals mining tax revenues are divided and revisit a proposal directing federal broadband funds toward expanding internet infrastructure statewide.