Seth Tupper

South Dakota regulators approve wind farm that will be the largest in the state • South Dakota Searchlight The Public Utilities Commission approved a permit for a $750 million wind farm planned on about 70,000 acres of private land.

South Dakota regulators approved a permit for a $750 million, 333-megawatt #WindFarm spread across 110 square miles of private land. The project is expected to be the largest wind facility in the state.

Clock ticks toward Department of Homeland Security shutdown after midnight deadline • South Dakota Searchlight The department’s shutdown is likely to go on for some time with Congress out for the Presidents Day recess.

The second partial government #shutdown in 2026 is set to begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, after lawmakers left the nation’s capital without reaching a deal on changes to immigration enforcement tactics at the Department of #HomelandSecurity.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

End of enhanced Obamacare subsidies puts tribal health lifeline at risk • South Dakota Searchlight The tribes are helping people shift to other insurance options and, in some cases, find state programs to cover their premiums.

Tribal insurance programs give Native Americans access to affordable health care when the Indian Health Service falls short. Those plans are threatened by the expiration of enhanced #AffordableCareAct subsidies.

Via @kffhealthnews.org buff.ly/eTd0p13

Members of Congress again challenge Noem policy limiting visits to immigration facilities • South Dakota Searchlight The policy is the third from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on the subject, and it is nearly identical to the previous two.

Members of Congress sought a ruling from a federal judge to block yet another Department of Homeland Security policy that required a notice for lawmakers to conduct oversight visits to immigration detention facilities. The policy is the third from DHS Secretary #KristiNoem.

State House rejects proposal requiring neighboring cities, counties to permit data centers • South Dakota Searchlight The state House rejected a bill that would have required data centers in to obtain an additional permit from a neighboring city or county.

The state House of Representatives voted 41-21 to reject a bill that would have required #DataCenters in South Dakota to obtain an additional permit from a neighboring city or county, if the city or county line is within 1 mile of the facility.

Department of Homeland Security shutdown nears, as US Senate remains stuck on funding • South Dakota Searchlight Lawmakers on Capitol Hill remained at a stalemate over bans on face masks and other immigration tactics as a deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security quickly approached.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill remained at a stalemate over bans on face masks and other immigration tactics as a deadline to fund the Department of #HomelandSecurity quickly approached.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

Mining explosives would be more tightly regulated by bill headed to South Dakota House • South Dakota Searchlight Responding to concerns from residents, lawmakers advanced legislation that would subject mining explosives to tighter regulation.

Responding to concerns from residents near a controversial mine on the edge of the Black Hills, a committee of South Dakota lawmakers advanced legislation that would subject mining explosives to tighter regulation.

South Dakota House backs E-Verify use by all employers to check citizenship, immigration status • South Dakota Searchlight E-Verify is a free federal government website that compares records from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Social Security Administration to the information on an employee’s I-9

The South Dakota House of Representatives voted 49-13 for a bill that would require the use of #EVerify by employers in the state to check employees’ eligibility to work in the United States.

Legislation passes state House that would require schools to show prenatal development videos • South Dakota Searchlight After a debate colored by views on abortion, the state House advanced a bill requiring South Dakota schools to teach students about prenatal human growth and development.

After a debate colored by views on #abortion, the Republican-dominated state House of Representatives voted 52-10 to advance a bill requiring South Dakota public schools to teach students about prenatal human growth and development, including the use of specifically defined videos.

Higher revenue estimate sparks talk of increases for schools, state workers, Medicaid providers • South Dakota Searchlight The legislative Joint Appropriations Committee adopted a general fund revenue projection of $2.5 billion for fiscal year 2027.

There will be enough money on hand to give teachers, state employees and Medicaid providers more funding next fiscal year, lawmakers on South Dakota’s budget committee expect. It’s just a matter of how much lawmakers choose to provide, utilizing higher-than-expected revenue.

US House approves bill mandating proof of citizenship for voting in federal elections • South Dakota Searchlight The U.S. House passed legislation that would require the public to produce a passport or birth certificate in most cases to register to vote.

With South Dakota's Dusty Johnson voting yes, the U.S. House passed legislation that would require the public to produce a passport or birth certificate in most cases to register to vote, less than a year out from November midterm elections.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

US House in bipartisan vote defies Trump, agrees to end his tariffs on Canada • South Dakota Searchlight Several House Republicans joined Democrats in passing a resolution to terminate the president’s national emergency at the northern border that triggered tariffs on Canada.

South Dakota's Dusty Johnson voted no, but several other House Republicans joined Democrats in passing a resolution to terminate the president’s national emergency at the northern border that triggered #tariffs on Canada.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

State Senate advances measure asking voters to authorize mobile sports betting • South Dakota Searchlight The South Dakota Senate voted 23-10 to approve a resolution that would ask voters to legalize mobile sports betting.

The South Dakota Senate voted 23-10 to approve a resolution that would ask voters to legalize mobile #SportsBetting and capture tax revenue from it to reduce #PropertyTaxes.

Lawmakers endorse adding school coaches as mandatory reporters of abuse and neglect, but not clergy • South Dakota Searchlight Debates about which authority figures should be mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect ended in one proposal’s failure and another’s advancement.

Debates about which types of authority figures should be #MandatoryReporters of child abuse and neglect ended in one proposal’s failure and another’s advancement at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre.

Federal judge declines to intervene in South Dakota attorney general's fight against abortion ads • South Dakota Searchlight The federal suit was in response to South Dakota's Marty Jackley asking a state judge to stop an abortion-rights ad campaign.

A federal judge declined to intervene against the South Dakota Republican attorney general's attempt to shut down a national nonprofit’s #AbortionPills ad campaign in the state.

The judge said "I trust that the South Dakota court will get it right."

Legislative proposal would require data centers to get permits from neighboring cities and counties • South Dakota Searchlight The bill would require data centers to obtain an additional permit for land use if the facility neighbors a county or city line.

A legislative proposal related to a situation in the Sioux Falls area would require #DataCenters in South Dakota to obtain an additional permit from a neighboring city or county, if the city or county line is within 1 mile of the facility.

Transfer of Spearfish Canyon hydro plant and funding for fish hatchery earn governor’s approval • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed bills transferring an old hydroelectric plant to a nonprofit, and appropriating millions for work at a fish hatchery.

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed bills transferring an old hydroelectric plant in Spearfish Canyon to a nonprofit for potential conversion to an interpretive center, and appropriating millions for work at a fish hatchery in Waubay.

South Dakota's seniors need Medicare to address physician shortage • South Dakota Searchlight Insufficient Medicare payments have forced too many physicians to make heartbreaking decisions. Some have had to stop accepting new Medicare patients.

"No matter how you slice it, the impact of Medicare’s inability to keep up with practice costs has an impact on patient care."

Commentary from Dr. Keith Hansen, president of the South Dakota State Medical Association, about the #Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. ⬇️

State House halts health care provider conscience exemption bill • South Dakota Searchlight Legislation that would have allowed South Dakota health care providers to refuse to perform services for patients failed.

Legislation that would have allowed South Dakota health care providers to refuse to perform services that violate their conscience failed in the state House of Representatives.

Democratic candidate for governor plans to lean on South Dakota’s ‘core values’ • South Dakota Searchlight Bringing a Democrat back to the South Dakota Governor’s Office will mean building a coalition of support, the party's director said.

Bringing a Democrat back to the South Dakota Governor’s Office will mean building a coalition of support for education, small business, family farms and affordable health care, the party’s highest-profile entrant into the 2026 governor’s race said.

Republicans on US House Homeland panel defend immigration tactics at tense hearing • South Dakota Searchlight The head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined during a U.S. House hearing to apologize to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

The head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined during a U.S. House hearing to apologize to the families of #AlexPretti and #ReneeGood, the victims of fatal shootings by immigration officers in Minneapolis.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

Governor approves deregulating gun silencers in South Dakota • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a bill that deregulates gun silencers by removing them from the state’s definition of a controlled weapon.

South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a bill that deregulates gun #silencers by removing them from the state’s definition of a controlled weapon.

School cellphone ban stays alive in South Dakota Legislature • South Dakota Searchlight A bill aiming to ban student cellphone use in South Dakota schools has a chance to be debated on the state Senate floor.

A bill aiming to ban student use of #cellphones in South Dakota schools has a chance to be debated on the state Senate floor after the Senate Education Committee voted 5-2 to send it there without recommendation.

Utility company leader tells audience that data centers will extend fossil fuel usage • South Dakota Searchlight The rapid growth of electricity-hungry data centers will extend the life of existing fossil-fuel power plants and result in more being built, said NorthWestern Energy's president and CEO.

The rapid growth of electricity-hungry #DataCenters will extend the life of existing fossil-fuel power plants and result in more being built, according to NorthWestern Energy's president and CEO, who spoke at a public event in Sioux Falls.

Pitfalls aplenty await legislators who want to micromanage school districts • South Dakota Searchlight During each South Dakota legislative session, a raft of bills are put forward for the betterment of education.

"The beauty of local school boards," writes Dana Hess, "is that they reflect the wants and needs of their communities."

But every year, some education bills are introduced at the state Capitol that are "just legislative interference."

Commentary:

State House panel endorses bill to bar jail time for inability to pay sobriety program fees • South Dakota Searchlight A bill that would bar the practice of jailing people who can’t afford to pay sobriety program fees sailed through a South Dakota panel Monday.

A bill that would bar the practice of jailing people who can’t afford to pay sobriety program fees sailed through a South Dakota House of Representatives panel at the Capitol in Pierre.

Excess school taxes and minimum state funding: Lawmakers move education funding bills forward • South Dakota Searchlight An attempt to make it easier to refer excess school property taxes to voters passed the South Dakota Senate State Affairs Committee.

An attempt to make it easier to refer excess school property taxes to voters passed a South Dakota legislative committee, and a bill to set a floor for annual state education funding increases also advanced.

Lawmakers endorse ‘principles’ on tribal consultation but punt on required meetings, documentation • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota officials ought to talk to tribal leaders more often, but state lawmakers aren’t prepared to make them.

South Dakota officials should talk to tribal leaders more often, but lawmakers aren’t prepared to make them. That was the message from two bills considered by a legislative committee.

Governor vetoes bill that would ban lab-grown meat, but says he’d support a moratorium • South Dakota Searchlight Rhoden proposed a compromise of a five-year ban on lab-grown meat products to allow the state time to study the product.

Gov. Larry Rhoden vetoed a bill that would effectively ban #LabGrownMeat in South Dakota, but also suggested a moratorium on the products as a compromise approach.

Trump shuts out Democratic governors from traditional White House gatherings • South Dakota Searchlight President Donald Trump decided to exclude Democratic governors from a traditional annual meeting at the White House.

President Trump decided to exclude Democratic governors from a traditional annual meeting at the White House and to disinvite several others from a black-tie dinner, according to the White House, the governors and the National Governors Association.

Via @statesnewsroom.com