Government Outreach Update February 11, 2026

If you happen to see any legislators around town this week, they might appreciate an extra dose of grace and patience. The bulk of the legislative calendar consists of four-day legislative weeks and three-day weekends. Last week was the only five-day work week of the Session, followed by a two-day weekend. For many legislators, weekends include catching up with their family, catching up on their other job(s), and attending cracker barrels.

The Legislature passed the halfway point yesterday. The final bill count for this year is 580 bills and joint resolutions. Approximately ten percent of the bills and resolutions deal with property taxes and adjacent issues such as TIF districts and school funding.

By tomorrow, the Joint Committee on Appropriations will need to select its general fund revenue target for FY2027. Setting the target involves the Legislative Research Council and the Bureau of Finance and Management each giving their projections for what they expect the economy to look like about 16 months in the future, and how that will affect state revenues.

So far the Governor has signed ten bills into law and has vetoed one, HB 1077, which would identify cell-cultured protein as an adulterated food product.

A few bill updates:

• The House State Affairs committee approved HB 1209 to require employers to verify employee eligibility through the Department of Homeland Security E-verify program.
• HB 1245 passed the House, to allow municipalities to impose a one-cent gross receipts tax to pay for capital improvement projects. It now moves to the Senate.
• The House approved HB 1180, introduced by Rep. Mortenson, to ensure the validity of non-compete agreements for jointly owned business entities. The bill now moves to the Senate.
• HB 1058, sponsored by all three local legislators, has passed both chambers and is in the queue for the Governor’s signature. This bill would require licensure for online pari-mutuel wagering pools for horse and dog races.
• HB 1122, to require licensure of fishing guides, was deferred to the 41^st legislative day by the House Ag Committee.
• SB 160 would require registration of fishing guides. The bill has been referred to Senate Ag Committee

An on-air legislative forum will happen this weekend – February 14 – on KCCR Radio, starting at 9:30 a.m.

For comprehensive legislative information please visit the Legislative Research Council Website at https://sdlegislature.gov 

If you would like to contact our area legislators:

Senator Jim Mehlhaff -  Jim.Mehlhaff@sdlegislature.gov

Representative Will Mortenson - Will.Mortenson@sdlegislature.gov

Representative Mike Weisgram - Mike.Weisgram@sdlegislature.gov