Chamber Advocate: March 8, 2024
The final week of the 2024 session concluded on Thursday this week, aside from Veto Day on March 25. The main issues acted on this week revolved around the ongoing budget, the supplemental budget and bills related to the proposed carbon pipeline.
The final act of the legislature was to approve the ongoing and supplemental budgets on Thursday. The ongoing budget provides a 4% increase in FY25 to the “Big Three,” which are education, state employees and Medicaid providers. The supplemental budget includes all additional spending in the current fiscal year. Two items that the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce heavily advocated for in the supplemental budget this session were passed. Funding for airport infrastructure was allocated at $10 million. A new quantum computing curriculum at Dakota State University and South Dakota School of Mines & Technology was funded at $3 million. This will help position our state at the forefront of this emerging industry.
Three bills were passed that address issues on both the landowner rights and economic development sides of the carbon pipeline debate. Together, the three bills, SB 201, HB 1185 and HB 1186, create some curbs and gutters around surveying regulations, landowner and county compensation for the project, and protections for private property owners as well. The goal of these pieces of legislation is to ensure that South Dakota remains open for business for large scale linear projects, especially ones that provide such a benefit to our agriculture industry, but also gives our private property owners the rights and protections they deserve.
Thank you all for your support during the 2024 South Dakota Legislative Session. The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce team depends on your engagement for us to be most effective and successful when advocating on behalf of the business community. Watch for a full recap of the 2024 legislative session in a future issue of Chamber News.
