Bills we’re supporting:
Status: Passed the Senate Chamber unanimously. Awaiting hearing in the House.
In 2020, Governor Noem suspended restrictions on telehealth so people could see a doctor without having to go into the doctor’s office. These tech services were utilized more than 70,000 times in South Dakota’s Medicaid program alone.
In recognition of the power of a tool telehealth can be for innovation in healthcare, the Governor’s office introduced SB 96 to make the following flexibilities permanent:
- Repeals prohibition against telehealth being used in the absence of the provider-patient relationship
- Broadens “appropriate” use of mediums as determined by the provider
Elevate Rapid City supports a balance between strengthening our healthcare industry and ensuring that world-class care is accessible and affordable for residents and businesses. Improving access to telehealth helps achieve these goals.
Allowing patients to choose telehealth is an important option that can have meaningful benefits for those with limited access to nearby medical providers or those patients with limited transportation options. Telemedicine services can provide South Dakota residents with more access to medical professionals while maintaining quality of care.
Status: Passed the House Chamber, awaiting its Senate committee hearing.
HB 1053 would establish an annual $50 fee for certain electric motor vehicles. North Dakota charges a $120/annual fee for electric vehicles. At least 28 other states in the U.S. have an annual fee for electric vehicle owners.
There are currently 162 registered electric vehicles in South Dakota. These electric vehicle users are not purchasing gas, therefore they do not participate in the financial burden of maintaining the roads they use.
We support this as the most fair and widely implemented structure to ensure that there is a proportionate burden on all highway users in the state of South Dakota.
Status: Passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously on Feb. 4.
HB 1046 limits lawsuits against businesses brought by people looking to recover damages from exposure to COVID-19.
The bill now heads to the Senate floor for passage on Monday, Feb. 8.
Status: Passed unanimously through the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. The next step is for the Appropriations Committee to consider adding this to the G-Bill.
HB 1040 will appropriate $5M of one-time funding $5,000,000 in one-time funding to support a meat processing grant program to assist South Dakota meat processors in responding to market and workforce disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Status: Passed House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee last week. Now it will move to House Appropriations Committee.
HB 1019 will appropriate $3.2M of one-time funding to the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority for the Liberty Wellness Center that will support our military community at Ellsworth Air Force Base (EAFB) and in Box Elder. This is an important project to our region’s preparedness for the B-21.
