South Dakota

State Senate keeps sales tax reduction temporary • South Dakota Searchlight

Published

2 years ago

March 5, 2024

State Senate keeps sales tax reduction temporary • South Dakota Searchlight

The state Senate killed off a last-minute attempt Tuesday in the House to permanently lower South Dakota’s sales tax to 4.2%, as lawmakers acted on several bills during the third-to-last day of the legislative session.

The Legislature and Gov. Kristi Noem lowered the sales tax from 4.5% to 4.2% last year, but that tax relief will sunset in 2027.

Sen. Jean Hunhoff, R-Yankton, reminded the Senate that lawmakers had weeks ago tanked one tax cut bill that aimed to do what the House amended SB 137 to do on Monday.

“We addressed this bill once this session,” Hunhoff said. “I would ask that we put it to bed.”

SB 137 was defeated on a 29-5 vote.

Cash for long-term care

A bill born of last summer’s long-term care study group is on its way to the governor’s desk. Senate Bill 80 authorizes the Department of Health to issue grants to providers for technological upgrades. That could include tech like remote patient monitoring for elderly patients who choose to remain in their homes, to enhance services at adult day centers or to improve care at nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

The Senate version had $3 million in grant funding. The House amended that figure down to $2 million, and Senators agreed on a 31-3 vote.

SB 80 is funded with state dollars. A bill to put $5 million in federal funds into grants for telemedicine expansion at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, SB 209, passed the House on Monday. It awaits a signature or veto from the governor.

Online porn age verification

The Senate revived a failed bill Monday that would mandate age verification for accessing pornographic websites and converted it into a mandate for a summer legislative study on the topic.

On Tuesday, the House did not concur with the amendment. Instead, the bill’s prime House sponsor, Rep. Bethany Soye, R-Sioux Falls, successfully motioned to send the bill to a conference committee of lawmakers from the two chambers.

911 surcharges

A bill to increase funding for 911 call centers by raising phone customers’ monthly surcharge from $1.25 to $2 per line is headed to the governor after the Senate and House approved a conference committee’s version of the bill.

In 2023, the existing surcharge generated about $12.47 million in revenue. With the proposed increase and assuming no change in the number of service lines, the projected revenue is approximately $19.95 million. The surcharge has not been increased since 2012.

Petition signature withdrawal

The House approved the Senate’s amendments to a bill that would establish a process for people to retract their signatures from ballot-question petitions. It comes in response to a proposed ballot measure to restore abortion rights.

The bill includes an emergency clause for immediate enactment prior to the Nov. 5 general election.

Initiated measures and referendums need 17,508 signatures from registered voters to make statewide ballots, and initiated constitutional amendments need 35,017. Dakotans for Health, which is circulating the abortion-rights petitions, has said the petitions have more than 50,000 signatures so far.

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South Dakota

Human trafficking survivor advocate to speak at Rapid City church event

Published

24 minutes ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Human trafficking survivor advocate to speak at Rapid City church event

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A Rapid City church is hosting a free community event Thursday to raise awareness about human trafficking, with organizers saying the danger may be closer than people think.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League at Bethlehem Lutheran Church is opening the presentation to the entire community because organizers say awareness alone can save a life.

“If we can get 20 people to understand what to look for — if we can get 20 people to understand that this organization exists — then we can start shining light into every corner, and suddenly it’ll be a better world,” said Alexandra Loverink, co-president of LWML Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Event details

The free presentation is Thursday, May 14 at 6 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Rushmore Street. The speaker is Reverend Tess Franzen, founder of Freedom’s Journey, a Rapid City-based ministry that has assisted hundreds of trafficking survivors over more than a decade.

Franzen said the problem in South Dakota is far more widespread than most people realize.

“We see mostly sex trafficking, but much of what we see is — some people might call it homegrown or familial,” Franzen said. “We see trafficking here where young people are being trafficked out, their family members are selling access to them when they’re children. And in many cases, they don’t really even realize there’s anything wrong with it.”

Organizer Cari Garwood-Beard said Franzen’s presentation changed how she sees her own neighborhood, and she wants others to have that same wake-up call.

“She told a story about her neighbor one time — just a good old guy — and found out that he was a trafficker. Her neighbor, who she thought was above boards,” Garwood-Beard said. “And it really hit home. My next-door neighbor could be.”

A freewill offering will be collected for Freedom’s Journey at Thursday’s event. Bethlehem Lutheran Church is at 1630 Rushmore Street.

Resources

If you suspect trafficking, dial 9-1-1 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

For more information about Freedom’s Journey, visit their website or call 805.380.8009.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life winning numbers for May 8, 2026

Published

13 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing

37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing

14-16-21-43-51, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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