By District 7 state Rep. Roger DeGroot | For The Brookings Register
We are not on the home stretch in Pierre yet, but we can see the end.
We are dealing with more bills than any other legislative body has had since the late 1990s. That means we have put in many long days, sometimes going back to the Capitol in the evenings. This is my fourth year at the Capitol and this is the first time I’ve seen many committees reconvening after the session. This heavy workload has caused intense policy debates in committees and on the House floor. Everybody is tired, causing heated exchanges. Amendments are being presented late and often. Motions are being made to reconsider bills and emotions are high and tempers are short.
On the other hand, we are working through many bills, defeating poor bills and passing good legislation. By the time you read this we will only have about 10 days left to complete what needs to be done. The three issues that I thought would be the most substantial topic we would tackle are property tax relief, data centers and of course what percentage of increase can we afford to give our K-12 school districts, our state workers and healthcare providers. These areas are still in limbo.
There are over 25 ideas on how to give property tax relief, some small and a few more substantial ideas. Leadership has put together a small group of legislators with the hope they can come up with some compromised suggestions. I’m leaning toward HB 1308, which would reduce certain property taxes for owner-occupied property, and to increase the rates for certain gross receipts taxes and use taxes. This bill would reduce property taxes by approximately 30 percent on some properties. I’m certain you will hear much more about this and more ideas in the days ahead.
The area that is highest on my list of funding priories is the state increase to K-12, state workers and health care providers. The appropriators have been crunching the numbers and I’m hoping for 1 to 1.5 percent increase; I’m feeling more comfortable all the time that this might become reality. One bill that I’m the prime on the House side is an attempt to increase the extraordinary cost fund. This bill has passed the Senate Educational Committee and is presently in appropriations; hopefully it will come out of there so we can consider it on the House side. It is still in consideration. You might ask what is the Sp. Ed. extraordinary cost fund? It is the mechanism that helps districts cover high-cost special education services that exceed their budget capacity. This fund has not kept pace with rising needs, leaving local taxpayer to absorb the extra cost difference.
HB1017 grants school boards more flexibility in handling student behavior by removing them to an alternative educational placement passed the House on Friday. This bill has been heavily amended and is a Department of Education bill and is supported by the governor. Even though I’m not completely satisfied with the bill, I did vote for it because I feel schools need to have control over students that disrupt the environment of the other students. Now it’s on it’s way to the Senate.
Once again, thanks for your support and if you are ever in Pierre stop by the floor and say “Hi.”
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