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From Facebook:

Filed late last week, and now up on the Secretary of State’s website is the Statement of Organization committee filing for Jim Halverson, who is running for the open House seat in District 21.

If you aren’t familiar with Jim, us old-timers recognize him as the son of State Senate icon Harold Halverson who served 26 years in the South Dakota State Legislature. And far younger Republicans might also know him as the father of Hayley Halverson, who has been an officer with the College Republicans, and is now traveling around the state working for the Dusty Johnson campaign.

Jim had previously made a run for the State Senate back in 1990, when Doris Miner was a long-time Democrat State Senator, and it was a tough, tough district for Republicans.   I’m sure an official announcement will be forthcoming, but it’s great to see such a good guy willing to step up and run.

Also noteworthy is that former legislator and Secretary of Ag Kim Vanneman is serving as treasurer for his campaign committee.

This sets up a very competitive primary with three candidates, Halverson, Rep. Marty Overweg and Lee Qualm, all competing for the two House seats.

If you’d like to donate to Jim’s  campaign, you can send your donation to:

Jim Halverson for House
PO Box 334
Winner, SD 57580

Stay tuned!

 

Attorney General Jackley Announces Peacemaker Found Not Guilty in Watertown Murder Trial

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced that Jeremiah Peacemaker of Watertown has been found not guilty of First Degree Murder in the August, 2020 death of Kendra Owen of Watertown.

A Codington County jury returned the verdict late Tuesday night after testimony from dozens of witnesses, law enforcement officers, and forensic experts.

“We respect the decision of the jury,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Thank you to the law enforcement officers who investigated this case, and the jury for their work.  We recognized the challenges of no murder weapon, no eyewitnesses, or confession but felt other evidence, including a fingerprint and blood, needed to go to the jury and was deserving of their 10 hours of deliberations.”

The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Watertown Police Department investigated the case. Attorney General Jackley and Chief Deputy Attorney General Brent Kempema prosecuted the case.

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SD Ag Alliance Urges Support For Landowner Bill of Rights (SB 201, HB 1185 and 1186)

(Pierre, SD) At the beginning of the Legislative Session, Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree and House Majority Leader Will Mortenson announced a legislative package that included extensive protections for landowners, additional compensation for landowners and counties, and more regulatory certainty for carbon capture pipelines. The legislative package has been amended by both the House and Senate and is now in conference committee to work out differences.

“Our goal was to give landowners more leverage, more protection, and more compensation in this carbon pipeline debate. Legislative leaders accomplished that with this agreement,” said Rob Skjonsberg, founding member. “Now, we can give Summit the certainty they need and a proper introduction to how we conduct business in South Dakota.”

The South Dakota Ag Alliance supports the current compromise language because it is a major victory for landowners in South Dakota,” said founding member Jason Glodt. “The current proposal will provide over $16 million to landowners and counties every year.”

The amended legislative package now includes the following protections and compensation for landowners and counties:

1. Compensation for Landowners: Requires carbon capture pipelines to pay landowners $500 to access their land for surveying (HB 1185) and at least .50 cents per linear foot of pipeline through their property in the form of property tax relief (SB 201)
2. Compensation for Counties: Allows counties to collect $1.00 per linear foot of pipeline that runs through their county. At least 50% of the surcharge must be used for property tax relief for landowners on the route. The remaining revenue can be spent by counties at their discretion. (SB 201)
3. Indemnity for Landowners: Requires pipeline companies to indemnify landowners for liability. (SB 201)
4. Minimum Burial Depth: Requires pipeline to be buried at least 4 ft deep, exceeding federal regulations of 3 ft (SB 201)
5. Disclosure of Dispersion Models: Requires carbon pipeline companies to make dispersion modeling public. (SB 201)
6. Lifetime Drain Tile Repairs: Requires pipeline companies to repair any damage to drain tile (SB 201)
7. Impact Mitigation: Requires pipeline companies to file an impact mitigation plan. (SB 201)
8. Leak Liability: Makes carbon pipeline companies liable to the landowner for any damage caused by leaks.  (SB 201)
9. Land Surveyors Must be from SD: Requires land surveyors be South Dakota residents. (SB 201)
10. Easements Terminate if Not Used in 5 years: Easements for pipelines terminate if pipeline does not receive PUC permit in 5 years and terminates after 5 years of non-use. (HB 1186)
11. Bans Perpetual Easements: Limits easements to a maximum of 99 years (SB 201)
12. Information Disclosure: Requires carbon pipeline companies to report linear footage of pipes in counties and disclose if they claim a tax credit. (SB 201) Landowner will also receive results of survey and examination and contact information for person in charge of inspection. (HB 1185)
13. Mortgage Limitations: Protects landowners by restricting mortgages held by an easement holder so the mortgage only attaches to the easement holders rights and not to the land or obligate the property owner. (HB 1186)
14. Easements Must Be Written: Requires companies to put easements in writing. (HB 1186)
15. Survey and Access Limits:  Landowners reserve right to challenge the right to survey in circuit court. Landowners must be given 30 days written notice and include details about date, time, duration, location and contact information. (HB 1185)

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South Dakota to Adopt Landowner Bill of Rights
Package of bills near finish line to protect landowners during CO2 pipeline proceedings

PIERRE–Today, Republican Majority Leaders announced the nation’s first Landowner Bill of Rights related to carbon dioxide pipeline projects, making South Dakota a leader in landowner protections throughout the nation.

At the beginning of the 2024 Legislative Session, House Majority Leader Will Mortenson and Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree set out to protect landowners and address issues that have emerged in recent years related to interstate utility projects. Together, the Majority Leaders worked on proposals that focused on a project development process that promotes respect, fairness, and certainty for everyone involved.

“These bills are 100 percent pro-farmer and 100 percent pro-landowner,” said Rep. Mortenson, R-District 24. “This package has landowner protections, real benefits to landowners and real benefits to counties. Those were my requirements and they have been met. We’re keeping local input, while keeping South Dakota open for business.”

“When South Dakota farmers succeed, all of South Dakota succeeds, and that cuts both ways. When South Dakota farmers have limited access to national and global markets, our whole state suffers,” said Sen. Crabtree, R-District 8. “These bills reflect the values of South Dakota and set the path for the future of farming in South Dakota. We entered session with an opportunity to help farmers, and we followed through. This package of bills sets the new standard for other states to follow to secure their economic future and provide a blanket of strong protections to landowners.”

“It took us two years for us all to come together because we were so far apart on utility certainty and landowner protections,” said Rep. Oren Lesmeister, D-District 28A and House Minority Leader. “We’ve come together as South Dakotans to do what’s best for all of South Dakota, but especially farmers, ranchers and landowners.”

South Dakota lawmakers are set to approve substantial protections for landowners. To do business in South Dakota, CO2 utility projects will be required to:

1. Construct a minimum depth of 48 inches–a full foot beyond federal requirements.
2. Assume lifetime drain tile damage repair policy.
3. Assume pipeline leak liability protection.
4. Indemnify landowners from any damage caused by the pipeline.
5. File an agricultural impact mitigation plan with the Public Utilities Commission.
6. File a dispersion analysis report with the PUC.
7. Require land agents to have a tie to South Dakota.
8. Provide landowner with survey results.
9. Only mortgage pipeline infrastructure–not an easement holder’s property.
10. Limit easement duration to 99 years.
11. Construct CO2 pipeline within 5 years of easement enactment.
12. Abandon easements if the CO2 pipeline is out of service for 5 years.
13. Pipeline easements must be written.
14. Follow survey and access rights.
15. Provide an access payment to the landowner for survey and siting.

SB 201 collects financial payments from CO2 pipeline operators at the county level per linear foot of the pipeline. The surcharge will provide $0.50 to pipeline landowner property tax relief and $0.50 to county general discretion for each linear foot. This is an estimated influx of $3.6 million annually to South Dakota counties for tax relief.

HB 1185 establishes a clear and fair process for landowners to be informed and compensated for access by companies for surveying and siting. It also establishes a process to challenge requests for access. HB 1185 also sets a $500 payment for survey access to the landowner.

HB 1186 sets easement standards for CO2 pipeline planning projects in South Dakota. Easements will be required to be written, expire in 99 years and be abandoned if the pipeline is out of use for five years or more or if the operator fails to file for permitting within five years.

Together, these bills continue the South Dakota tradition of being good neighbors and right-sizing the issues that have emerged related to pipelines to forge a path forward that respects landowners, creates fairness for landowners and developers, and provides certainty for all parties during the phases of easements, constructions and operations.

SB 201, HB 1185 and HB 1186 are supported by agriculture, landowner, and economic development groups representing tens of thousands of family farms and landowners.

“By looking out for the landowner, the Legislature is requiring developers to accept these terms and be good neighbors in South Dakota,” added Crabtree. “The Legislature’s focus is on South Dakota. This package is the result of listening to landowners, farmers and our constituents and then doing the right thing for our state.”

“I’m excited for the Legislature to cross the finish line with these landowner protections,” added Mortenson. “Doing nothing this session benefits no one – especially farmers. I’m glad we are seizing our opportunity to help farmers, help counties, and ensure projects in our state get built in a South Dakota way.”

SB 201, HB 1185 and HB 1185 will be heard in conference committee on Wednesday, March 6. The proposed amendments for consideration are posted online at sdlegislature.gov.

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As alleged a few days ago, Taffy Howard filed paperwork to run for District 34 State Senate today.

Oddly, in the press release that Taffy’s ghostwriter sent out, her big statement talks about two things that she really should avoid bringing up this election:

“I am dedicated to serving District 34 and South Dakota. I will use my experience and relationships I’ve built in Pierre to build a brighter, safer, and stronger South Dakota together!” Howard declares, signaling her readiness to contribute to the state’s future.

Holy buckets?!? Did her flaks really try to invoke her “experience” and “relationships?”  WOW! Are they kidding?

Her experience? As in passing 0 – ZERO – bills out of 17 in her last three years at bat?  Or as in skipping 14% of floor votes in her last legislative session?  How about when she skipped the vote on impeachment?  In fact, I think Dusty Johnson did a commercial on her “experience” in the last election:

And let’s not forget this prior ding on her experience, as well as any claims of being conservative..

And that’s literally just the tip of the iceberg regarding her utter lack of competence as a legislator.

What about Howard’s claims invoking the relationships she’s built in Pierre?

I know there was one event in the last two years where, if she didn’t note it publicly, I believe the Governor referred to legislator Taffy at the time as useless. That came after Taffy sued Governor Kristi Noem over providing broadband service to rural communities.

Oh! Don’t forget! Remember back a couple of months ago when Taffy had an opportunity to help the Republican Party?

..while I have a deep admiration for what Trump has been able to accomplish, I do believe he is being used by the establishment elites in our state to give themselves some standing with their conservative constituents, which I don’t want to help in any way.

Read Taffy Howard’s screed here.

Yeah.. Lots of relationship building there.

So, as for Taffy’s “experience and relationships?” She might want to downplay those, lest people get wind of the real Taffy experience.

Saddle up, as Taffy Howard tries for a comeback. Because it sounds as if she’s riding a lot of bull on her way back to Pierre.

State Senator “Sticky Tom” Pischke is telling KELOland news that he’s going to actually look into whether he might legally contest his ban from the House Floor after his incident where he was banned from the House Floor because of his recent unwelcome conduct with a syrup bottle.

“I have a member who is very offended,” Bartels said.

Asked whether he did it, Pischke said, “Video doesn’t lie.” He put the bottle of Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup on Conzet’s desk at about 12:30 p.m. Monday. He said it was meant “as a gift.” As for the discipline, Pischke said, “I just think this is completely overreaction.”

and..

When I took office, SD wasn’t high on site selectors' radar – but that has changed dramatically!

Now, we’re at the top of the list.

SD won the @SiteSelection Governor’s Cup for the most economic development protects per-capita in the nation!https://t.co/pbxbFjg3l7 pic.twitter.com/QhbJlOysIM

— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) March 5, 2024

Gov. Noem Signs Bills into Law 

PIERRE, S.D. – Yesterday, Governor Kristi Noem signed the following 19 bills into law:

• SB 9 further limits applications for clemency for violent crime offenders sentenced to life imprisonment;
• SB 15 requires a convicted defendant to reimburse the cost of digital forensic examination fees;
• SB 42 modifies provisions related to medical cannabis;
• SB 76 modifies provisions pertaining to the appointment of vacant positions on a board or commission;
• SB 81 expands permission on installing electric wiring in a residence;
• SB 84 updates the edition of the guidebook used for measuring damages to trees or plants;
• SB 85 revises a provision related to an action to quiet title to real property;
• SB 86 allows a municipality authorized to allow legal games of chance to issue additional off-sale liquor licenses to hotel-motel convention facilities;
• SB 112 establishes a non-resident title fee;
• SB 152 establishes maximum fees for legal publications and to remove related rule-making authority from the Bureau of Administration;
• SB 169 revises provisions regarding drones;
• HB 1082 changes the eligibility requirements, and the exempt value, of a property tax relief program for disabled veterans and surviving spouses;
• HB 1084 repeals a provision related to habeas corpus proceedings;
• HB 1086 establishes an enhanced penalty for probationers intentionally causing contact with bodily fluids or human waste with a Unified Judicial System employee;
• HB 1099 establishes educational standards for the expanded practice of optometry;
• HB 1100 modifies certain requirements for eligibility to receive a gift of a museum collection from a county or municipality;
• HB 1147 addresses discriminatory acts against entities participating in a 340B drug pricing program;
• HB 1182 revises provisions pertaining to the observation of the conduct of an election; and,
• HB 1196 streamlines the process by which an on-sale retail license holder may acquire a special event license.

A photo of Governor Noem signing these bills can be found here.

Governor Noem has signed 129 bills into law this legislative session.

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Had an interesting e-mail the other day with regards to Rick Weible, election denier, self-declared South Dakota Hero, and currently a Candidate for House.. er, now candidate for Senate in District 8.

Weible seems to have a strong association with a Rachel Davis, a candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives. Weible’s efforts to try to convince people that something is wrong with election equipment features regularly in Davis’ social media, as noted here by her post from last Friday..

And a few very short months ago, Weible was a featured speaker at an event for candidate Davis, as noted by this event poster from November 30th of last year after Weible had already announced he was running for State House in South Dakota..

You can see here he was featured as a speaker at this Davis Rally as the former Mayor of Saint Bonicafius, and “election expert,” skipping over any mention of his South Dakota stuff.  In fact, at the event, here’s a picture of Weible on stage at the event as posted on Davis’ social media..

..looking a bit older than the photo used on the event advertisement.  I believe this is Weible, Minnesota State Senator Mark Koran, and Koran Campaign Chair Connie Thorp. A brief web search on Koran notes that in addition to the Minnesota State Senate, he tries to raise funds for January 6 insurrectionists.

(Okay. You know this website. Let’s start down the rabbit hole!)

So, Legislative candidate Weible, Koran, etc, are gathered together at an event to “Defeat Left Radicalism” with Rachel Davis of Minnesota Legislative District 27B. Why is this something we should pay attention to as Rick pursues running for the South Dakota State Legislature?  Well, Rick’s Minnesota friend Rachel Davis has some issues that start back in 2022 and continued into 2023 which prevented Minnesota Republicans from endorsing her in their recent election endorsement process:

“The committee did not support me because I am on probation for a DUI,” Davis said. “I was asleep on the side of the road and got approached by a police officer. It was my first offense and I was (put) on probation for two years. They had a hard time with that.

“I told them everybody makes mistakes and I am a fighter and we need fighters down at the Capitol.“

https://www.hometownsource.com/elk_river_star_news/news/government/house-27b-candidate-faces-potential-jail-time-for-probation-violation/article_0586e340-d283-11ee-a19c-4fdabd3a2b87.html

Davis is a fighter? Well, the problem is WHO she was apparently fighting that caused her some issues in a 2023 incident. Continuing on…

The Carver County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a patron who was reportedly being belligerent and hitting people, according to an incident complaint report drawn up by the responding deputies.

and..

Due to Davis’ level of intoxication and not having anyone to care for her, it was determined she would go to the hospital to be evaluated. After she was cleared by a doctor, she was taken to jail.

While en route to jail, Davis stated she was very powerful and used expletives to say they would suffer consequences for their actions, the incident report stated.

During the ride to jail, she reportedly stated she was running for 27B. She also made several threatening remarks to the deputy who was transporting her to jail related to him specifically and others, the report said.

Read that entire story here.

While being belligerent at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater and threatening law enforcement in early 2023 has apparently caused Minnesota Republicans to consider someone else in their election process, it certainly hasn’t prevented Rick Weible from working with Rachel Davis as she promotes his efforts at hand counting and he appears at her events.

As a candidate running for District 8 State House Senate back in South Dakota, it brings up several questions as to what Rick Weible’s agenda is for South Dakota? And does he even care who he promotes? Or is it all about his election conspiracy goofiness?

Because if that’s the kind of person he wants to help along in their campaign efforts, there’s definitely some questions that need to be raised by South Dakota Republicans. And the GOP needs to remember – Quality candidates matter.