Rep. Nick Fosness Week 4 Update
Welcome back to the show, everyone. We have completed week 3 of the 2026 South Dakota Legislative Session, and things are already moving at full speed.
The biggest headline this week was a real win for rural South Dakota. HB 1044 — the Rural Health Transformation Fund — got signed into law by Governor Rhoden faster than most people expected. We’re talking up to $402 million over the next two years to invest in rural healthcare. From Ambulance to Nursing Homes and from Clinics to Hospitals, this is 100% Federal investment into our district and rural state. It’s not a permanent fix, but it is an investment into innovation, technology, and keeping care local.
On the flip side, the push to repeal Medicaid expansion hit a wall. HJR 5002 — the resolution that would’ve put the whole question back on the ballot passed committee but couldn’t get the votes on the House floor. That tells you something about where the political math sits right now. We voted to trust the will of the voters. Whether you were for this expansion, against it, or somewhere in the messy middle, the reality is we’re still living with the policy voters approved in 2022, and undoing it legislatively isn’t happening this year. I testified against this going back on the ballot and for good reasons, it isn’t.
We also saw some movement on education choice with SB 84 expanding the Partners in Education Scholarship program. This passed unanimously, which is rare in Pierre. And there were a couple of conscience-protection bills getting attention, like HB 1153, trying to make sure no doctor or nurse gets forced into procedures or policies that violate their oath or their ethics. That debate’s going to keep heating up.
Finally, SCR 604 passed both chambers — a resolution affirming South Dakota’s Christian heritage and to seek God’s mercy for the state. Some folks loved it, others thought government should stay out of that lane entirely. Either way, it’s a reminder that culture and faith are part of our state’s history. This is a resolution and not a law. This is a statement and one I chose to support, and yet please know I support the important separation of church and state. It’s ok to do both.
That’s the quick wrap on Week 3. Next week the property-tax conversation is going to get louder, and we’ll have more health and education bills hitting the floor. If there’s something you want me to hear, please email me at [email protected] or my cell is (605) 228-5555.
Sen. Mike Rohl Week 4 Update
Below is an update on the bills I’ve written so far and where they are in the legislative process:
SB 3: An act to limit the types of residential improvements for which counties, municipalities and townships may require a building permit. This bill has been widely supported by legislators but has faced significant opposition from Sioux Falls and Rapid City based code enforcement officers. It is currently being held in Senate committee while negotiations continue to seek a compromise both sides can support.
SB 4: An act to revise procedures for returning and withholding security deposits for residential premises. The bill extends the time for landlords to return security deposits from 14 days to 21 days. It was supported by both landlord and tenant groups as a compromise to lower costs and increase affordability. The bill passed both chambers and is on the governor’s desk.
SB 5: An act to clarify how a ballot measure was placed on the ballot. This bill instructs the attorney general to clarify in the ballot explanation whether an issue was vetted and placed on the ballot by the Legislature or placed on the ballot through citizen signatures. The bill is on the governor’s desk.
SJR 501: A resolution proposing an amendment to the South Dakota Constitution to limit the number of consecutive terms an individual may serve in the Legislature to 16 years. The bill passed out of Senate committee on a 6 to 3 vote and the Senate floor 20 to 14. It now awaits a House committee hearing, though it is expected to be defeated in House State Affairs.
SJR 502: A resolution applying to the United States Congress under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to call for a convention proposing an amendment fixing the number of U.S. Supreme Court justices at one chief justice and eight associate justices. The resolution passed out of Senate committee on party lines and the Senate floor by a 24 to 10 vote.
SB 110: An act to provide privacy protections for broadband internet customer information. The bill would require internet service providers to offer opt in consent before selling customer data. It aims to give consumers control over their personal information and is awaiting its first committee hearing.
SB 111: An act to require social media companies to provide users access to collected personal data upon request and maintain transparent interoperability interfaces. The bill would require companies to disclose what data is collected and allow users access to that information. It is awaiting its first committee hearing.
