Hello again from Pierre, We are fast approaching the end of the 101st session of our state legislature. Many of the bills remaining to deal with are either strongly supported or have been killed. We are close to balancing the 2027 FY budget. There are still some areas to be decided this coming week.
BH 1082, that would provide reimbursement of school districts that provide free, reduced price meals to students came over from the house side with 66 votes in support. It was, however, defeated in Senate Appropriations by a 5-4 vote. This bill will have an attempt to smoke it out and be considered on Monday. I hope there is enough support to pass this piece of legislation. Word is the governor will sign this if we are able to pass it.
Several other possible investments from one time funds have had motion sheets turned in whose funding amounts are still uncertain are; local food purchase assistance program (Feeding SD), temporary aid for needy families benefit (TANF), and domestic and sexual abuse program inflation (VOCA). VOCA funds currently look like that will be shifted into the G-bill for ongoing (not one time) support.
Critical access hospitals and federally qualified heal centers look to be given funds in the G-bill. This is long past due, since they have not been rebased since 1967 and are currently only receiving 60% of their costs for medicaid services. Hopefully this will keep them alive and able to serve healthcare needs in our state.
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and legislative research council (LRC) seem to have the support for increases in staffing needs.
SB 96 has passed both bodies and will be signed by the governor, since it is his bill. There are several other bills still alive and it will be interesting to see how much support they can garner this week.
The quote for this week comes from Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay cosmetics, who said: ' We need leaders who add value to the people and the organization they lead; who work for the benefit of others and not for their own personal gain. Leaders who inspire and motivate, not intimidate and manipulate; who live with the people to know their problems in order to solve them and who follow a moral compass that points in the right direction regardless of the trends.'
Help each other and keep smiling.