South Dakota
South Dakota lawmakers whittle property tax relief ideas down to governor’s proposal
South Dakota lawmakers nearly came up empty-handed on their property tax relief campaign pledges Monday, until they rescued one of several remaining bills from defeat.
Many lawmakers campaigned on property tax reform in the 2024 election, more than 20 bills were introduced this legislative session addressing the issue, and the governor convened a working group earlier this session to introduce a comprehensive property tax reform package. That bill from the governor was the only one left standing by late Monday, the first day of the session’s final week.
Lawmakers are responding to public calls for relief, largely from non-agricultural property owners. Since 2017, property tax payments have gone up 47% for owner-occupied homes and 36% for commercial property, while rising 3% for agricultural property. Ag land taxes have been held in check by a change from market-based to productivity-based assessments.
Lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives rejected other bills Monday at the Capitol in Pierre that would have provided varying amounts of property tax relief to South Dakota homeowners.
The House of Representatives reconsidered and approved, by a vote of 53-16, an amended version of what the governor has called his “rifle shot” approach to the issue, after the bill failed in the chamber by one vote earlier in the day. The legislation will now go back to the Senate for consideration of the amended language.
Rep. Trish Ladner, R-Hot Springs, has been working to pass property tax reform for several years. She called the legislative proposal a “good first bite.”
“It’s not a solution to every issue,” Ladner told lawmakers on the House floor, “but it gives us the opportunity to pause the skyrocketing valuations and the bleeding that people are feeling.”
Governor’s legislation passes with amendment
Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden’s bill would cap countywide residential assessment growth at 3% annually for five years, cap at 3% for five years the amount local governments can increase tax collections annually based on new construction (that five-year sunset and change to 3% were amended into the bill Monday), exempt some home improvements worth less than 40% of a home’s value from affecting assessments, and expand eligibility among disabled and elderly people for property tax relief programs.
Rep. Greg Jamison, whose own property tax bill failed Monday in the Senate, told lawmakers the Governor’s Office supported the amendment on the governor’s bill “to make something work.” It was enough to sway his vote because the amendment “lightens the load” for growing counties, but he’s still “concerned” about the limiting growth factor.
“But I don’t want to go home empty-handed either,” Jamison said.
Opposing lawmakers said the legislation is flawed because it primarily targets counties with the largest growth. Rep. Mike Weisgram, R-Fort Pierre, said the legislation aims to manipulate property valuations, which strays from “letting the market work.”
Rep. Liz May, R-Kyle, voted against the bill twice, saying that the solution is to cut spending by local governments or find new revenue streams.
“I hope when we step back in here next year, there better not be any more rifle shots,” May said. “I want a plan.”
Other bills rejected
Earlier Monday, the House rejected Senate Bill 191 in a 62-7 vote. The bill, from Sen. Amber Hulse, R-Hot Springs, would have rolled back assessments for some homeowners and capped assessment growth for all of them.
Some lawmakers in the House made a last-ditch effort to revive a bill to lower property taxes and replace the lost local revenue by increasing the state sales tax. The House shot that effort down 42-27.
The Senate rejected House Bill 1235 in a 21-13 vote. The legislation, from Jamison, would have reduced local taxing districts’ annual inflationary property tax collection growth from a 3% cap to a 2.5% cap.
Opponents said the bill would limit counties, cities and school boards’ ability to meet their budgetary needs. Sen. Randy Deibert, R-Spearfish, told lawmakers the legislation is a “bad bill” that messes with a system “that’s not broken.”
“We have a summer study under a resolution that’ll dig into this and look under the hood,” Deibert said.
Both chambers passed a resolution earlier this session to create a summer task force to “identify impactful, substantive measures” to provide significant and lasting tax relief. The task force will include 16 lawmakers, a representative from the Bureau of Finance and Management, and a representative from the Governor’s Office.
Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, said property tax reform is “one of the most important priorities” of the legislative session.
“We need to take a look at the whole picture of what’s happening,” Karr told lawmakers, “what forces are driving the property taxes to increase and what some of the mechanisms are that we can look at and consider to provide relief.”
The South Dakota State baseball team is fighting for its season today against Arizona State in the Lincoln Regional. The game is set for 2 p.m.
The No. 4 Jackrabbits (24-32) lost 4-1 to No. 1 Nebraska in the opening game. No. 3 Arizona State lost a 706 heartbreaker to No. 2 Ole Miss in the opening round in 14 innings. The game took nearly 5.5 hours and ended around 1:20 a.m.
Here’s how to watch South Dakota State’s win-or-go-home game.
Watch South Dakota State baseball vs … on ESPN+
South Dakota State vs. Arizona State baseball stream, radio
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: KJJQ 910 AM
South Dakota State vs. Arizona State time today
- Date: Saturday, May 30
- Time: 2 p.m. CT
- Location: Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Nebraska
South Dakota State vs. Arizona State prediction
Paul Cifonelli, Argus Leader: This was always a tough draw for South Dakota State, as I thought this was the toughest regional in the country. At worst it’s the third toughest, with Chapel Hill and College Station in contention.
The Jackrabbits do have an advantage since Arizona State and Ole Miss went at it until after 1 a.m. Both teams stressed their pitching staffs, and every at bat required intense focus. The problem is South Dakota State doesn’t have the same top-end pitching these other teams do.
If Drew McDowell pitches, the Jacks might have a shot here. Otherwise they’ll have to win a slugfest, and I just don’t like those odds.
Prediction: Arizona State 8, South Dakota State 3
MISSION, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – In rural South Dakota, miles often separate expectant mothers from healthcare.
“A lot of women out here are left without any maternity care options,” said Rachel Kocak.
In Mission, moms mark their due dates and calculate miles to the nearest delivery location. Rachel Kocak, expecting her third child, said one option just closed.
“We used to have a birthing unit, I think up until a couple of months ago, and they lost their OB. So, Winner is no longer delivering babies,” Rachel said.
Some mothers remember when they could reach the hospital within a five-minute drive.
“IHS, for tribal members, they don’t deliver babies out here or provide prenatal care,” Rachel explained.
Families hope to reach the hospital before the baby arrives.
“So women either have to drive to Valentine, which is about 30 to 35 minutes from Mission, they can go to Wanblee, which is on the Pine Ridge Reservation, or they have to go to Pierre, Rapid City, or Sioux Falls,” Rachel said.
And if the roads are bad.
“I think there are a lot of babies who are unintentionally born at home. So it’s a tough place, I think, for mothers,” Rachel said.
The March of Dimes breaks down government data, showing a large portion of rural South Dakota as a maternity care desert, requiring travel of 38 or more minutes to reach an appointment or delivery room. The infant mortality rate is higher among native American babies born, compared to other races.
Health Department maps show counties in medium blue have 56 infant deaths per 100,000 births. Dark blue counties have three times as many. Grants aim to increase the number of healthcare workers, and funding supports a doula workforce program.
Kocak would like to see doulas and midwives available.
“Great opportunity for anyone who wants to become a home-birth midwife out here. The birth rate is still, I’m not sure what it is, but it’s high. There’s still a growing young population, and just not enough people to help deliver the babies,” Rachel said.
If care were closer, the outcomes could be brighter.
“You know, having the support network can make a huge change in the lives of these young, you know, these babies and young mothers who are building new families,” Rachel said.
The South Dakota Department of Health released a statement to Dakota News Now, which can be read in full below.
The South Dakota Maternal and Infant Health Task Force was created in 2025 to bring partners together to help improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and infants across the state. Their 5-year strategic plan was recently released, which has three priority areas: postpartum care to improve maternal health; safe sleep education and prevention strategies to protect infant health; and systems of care work that improves access, coordination, and quality of care statewide. One of the strategic plan activities that is supported by Rural Health Transformation is the creation of Regional Maternal and Infant Health Hubs, which will create a hub-and-spoke network connecting hospitals, clinics, tribal health services, and community organizations. These hubs will improve care coordination, strengthen referral pathways, and expand access to services for families in rural and tribal communities.
Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
While the race to secure the nomination for governor has dominated the headlines ahead of the June 2 primary, Republican voters will also choose a candidate for one of South Dakota’s two U.S. Senate seats.
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, who is seeking a third, six-year term, holds a comfortable lead over his GOP primary challenger, Justin McNeal, a Navy veteran and business owner from Rapid City, according to the latest poll from News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy.
Here is a recap of the two candidates along with their thoughts heading into the June 2 election. The winner of the Republican primary will meet Democrat Julian Beaudion and Independent Brian Bengs in the Nov. 3 general election.
Hometown: Fort PierreAge: 71Occupation: Insurance broker; businessman; former governor (2003-2011); U.S. senator since 2015In their own words:
Rounds provided the following statement to News Watch:
“Working in the U.S. Senate, I’ve stayed focused on results that matter for our kids and grandkids. That means keeping the government off your back and out of your business and wallet. That means keeping our communities safe and creating a business climate that encourages job growth to keep our kids in South Dakota. And that means safety through a commitment to our men and women in uniform.
This past summer, we worked with President Trump to pass the Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. Without Congressional action, the average South Dakota family would have seen a $2,500 tax hike this year. Our legislation not only prevented the largest tax increase in American history, but it also provided additional tax relief for hard-working South Dakota families. That includes no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security for nearly 9 out of 10 seniors.
We’ve accomplished some great things, but our work is not done. I am running for reelection to continue bringing results back home to South Dakota.”
Hometown: Rapid City (born in Illinois and raised in Texas)Age: 42Occupation: Business owner (Dakota BioChar); Navy veteran (2001-2007)In their own words:
“I’m feeling the people in South Dakota are ready for a change. The challenge we are running into is that not enough people know who we are, but as soon as they know who we are, it’s an easy decision for them,” McNeal told News Watch in a phone interview. “I don’t have millions and millions of dollars. I’ve been largely self-funding this race up to this point.”
McNeal, who is a licensed pilot, said he has flown his small plane to events throughout the state in an attempt to get his name out.
“I talk to people about the issues that matter and I tell them the biggest thing you can do to help me is tell 10 people about me and to go vote June 2. We need about 50,000 votes to win the primary,” he said.
McNeal is not critical of Rounds and conceded “he is very popular” but said Rounds has not done enough to tackle the country’s growing fiscal deficit.
“I don’t think Mike is doing a bad job. I’m just concerned with the federal debt and the people that got us into that mess are not going to be the ones to get us out of it,” McNeal said.
“This is going to cripple the country. It just seems like politicians are focused on what they can bring to their home district or home state. And the problem with that is every member of Congress is doing the same thing, so everyone is taking and taking without making sure we can pay for it.”
South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.
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