South Dakota Legislative Billwatch, Jan. 25, 2016

These are some of the important bills being considered in the South Dakota Legislature today.

HB 1008 is a bill spelling out what used to be common sense only a few short years ago, specifically that school restrooms and locker rooms are to be used by people of the same biological sex. It is being considered by the House State Affairs Committee today.  This bill hearkens back to the politically correct South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) policy hatched a couple of years ago which sought to allow boys confused about their sex to use the girls restrooms and locker rooms, and vice versa.  The “Republican” supermajority legislature lacked the courage and the common sense to do what is obviously the right thing last year. Perhaps they’ll manage to pull their heads out this year and act like Republicans and decent, sane people.

HB 1048 appears to be a pro-gambling bill intended to broaden the authority of the  South Dakota Lottery Commission to expand gambling in South Dakota. Apparently we don’t have enough people addicted to gambling already, not nearly enough families wrecked, and not nearly enough taxpayer dollars spent on dealing with gambling problems. HB 1057 appears to be a pro-gambling bill along the same lines. The House Commerce and Energy Committee will be reviewing these bills today.

HB 1013 appears to be a minor change to state law dealing with homeschool education. It has already passed the House Education Committee 13-0 and is being considered by the full House today.

HB 1033 is related to elections, and includes a definition on independent voters and write-in candidates of parties not recognized by the state of South Dakota.

HB 1052 seeks to avoid conflicts of interest for people in the Department of Revenue who are involved with liquor licensing.

Keep an eye and an ear on what your representatives are doing in Pierre. Even bills which don’t appear to be dangerous to your freedom and your wallet can be amended or gutted on a dime, and turn on you faster than you can blink.

	Date	Committee/Chamber	Bill	Title
	1/25 8:30 AM	House State Affairs	HB 1008	restrict access to certain restrooms and locker rooms in public schools.
	1/25 10:00 AM	House Commerce and Energy	HB 1048	revise certain provisions regarding the authority of the South Dakota Lottery Commission to regulate video lottery.
	1/25 10:00 AM	House Commerce and Energy	HB 1057	revise the rule-making authority of the South Dakota Commission on Gaming.
	1/25 2:00 PM	House of Representatives	HB 1013	revise certain provisions regarding alternative instruction achievement tests for children excused from school attendance.
	1/25 2:00 PM	House of Representatives	HB 1033	revise certain provisions concerning elections and election petitions and to declare an emergency.
	1/25 2:00 PM	House of Representatives	HB 1052	revise certain alcoholic beverage business restrictions on Department of Revenue employees.

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Bob Ellis has been the owner of media company Dakota Voice, LLC since 2005. He is a 10-year U.S. Air Force veteran, a political reporter and commentator for the past decade, and has been involved in numerous election and public policy campaigns for over 20 years. He was a founding member and board member of the Tea Party groups Citizens for Liberty and the South Dakota Tea Party Alliance. He lives in Rapid City, South Dakota with his wife and two children.

Bob Ellis

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