Legislative Recap

The bicameral system did what it was supposed to do and filtered out most of the noise and most of the bills sent to the governor’s desk for signature will do some good for our state.

There were a number of agricultural bills that had their day in the sun, but for a number of reasons did not thrive. HB 1039, a bill that would have changed the rules for assessing ag land with an elevation over 1,950 feet failed and was sent to the 41st day. HB 1325, a replacement bill to address Class IV soils, was passed and signed by the Governor.

HB 1321, a bill to try to deal with “frivolous or vexatious” complaints against commercial pesticide applicators was killed in committee. It was not that the idea does not have a certain appeal to many in the agricultural industries, but that the bill needed greater clarification.

HB 1306 originally dealt with appropriating $50 million from the general fund to go to county rural access infrastructure but was amended to $25 million, passed and was signed by the Governor.

The Ag Cybersecurity bill (1092) has passed both houses and was signed by the Governor. It will fund the creation of a CyberAg partnership with SDSU and DSU, which will have undergraduate and graduate-level courses.

Finally, a bill to construct an agriculture and diesel power laboratory on the MTI campus has passed and is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

While the legislative session was short, there is no question that a lot occurred. There were 339 House Bills, Almost 40 house resolutions and commemorations, 212 Senate bills, and 41 Senate resolutions and commemorations. You can rest assured that your legislative team and Soybean leadership did everything they could to make sure that there was a net positive gain for SD Soybean farmers.

ABOUT JEROMY PANKRATZ

Jeromy joined Pankratz & Associates after spending 15 years in both public and private practice. After law school, Jeromy served as a judicial clerk for the First Circuit in South Dakota. As a private attorney, Jeromy started as a general practitioner with extensive experience in both trial and negotiations work and expanded into lobbying and public relations. During his time in private practice, Jeromy was the elected State’s Attorney for Hamlin County. Jeromy also worked in Attorney General Marty Jackley’s office, serving as the primary lobbyist for the office for six years. Jeromy now offers legal advice through Pankratz Law.