Executive Board

Senator Lee Schoenbeck, Chair

Representative Hugh Bartels, Vice Chair

Senator Reynold Nesiba, Ranking Minority Member

First Meeting, 2024 Interim Room 414 – State Capitol

March 26, 2024 Pierre, South Dakota

The Executive Board was called to order by Senator Lee Schoenbeck at 1:30 p.m. in Room 414 of the State Capitol, Pierre.

A quorum was determined with the following members answering the roll call: Senators Jim Bolin, Casey Crabtree, Steve Kolbeck, Erin Tobin, and Dean Wink; Representatives Randy Gross, Chris Karr, Will Mortenson, Rebecca Reimer, Mike Stevens, and Mike Weisgram; Senator Reynold Nesiba, Ranking Minority Member; Representative Hugh Bartels, Vice Chair; Senator Lee Schoenbeck, Chair.

Staff members present included John McCullough, Chief Research and Legal Counsel/Interim Director; Elijah Rodriguez, Chief IT Officer; Michelle Deyo-Amende, Administrative Specialist.

NOTE: For purpose of continuity, the following minutes are not necessarily in chronological order. Also, all referenced documents distributed at the meeting are attached to the original minutes on file in the Legislative Research Council office. This meeting was webcast live. The archived webcast is available at the LRC website at sdlegislature.gov.

Approval of Minutes

Representative Mortenson moved, seconded by Senator Crabtree, to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2024, Executive Board Meeting. Motion prevailed on a voice vote.

Meeting Dates for the Executive Board, 2024 Interim

Senator Schoenbeck announced proposed meeting dates and times for the Executive Board for the 2024 Interim.

Senator Crabtree moved, seconded by Representative Lesmeister, to set the 2024 Executive Board meeting dates and times as April 23 at 10:30 a.m., June 24 at 10:00 a.m., August 15 at 10:00 a.m., and November 12 at 8:30 a.m. Motion prevailed on a voice vote.

Consideration of Vacancy in LRC Director Position

Representative Bartels moved, seconded by Representative Lesmeister, to appoint John McCullough as the Director of the Legislative Research Council, with terms to be established by the Executive Committee of the Executive Board. Motion prevailed on a voice vote.

Appointment of South Dakota – Ireland Trade Commission

Senator Crabtree moved, seconded by Representative Mortenson, to appoint Luke Lindberg to the South Dakota - Ireland Trade Commission (SB 165, § 2). The motion prevailed on a roll call vote with 12 AYES and 3 EXCUSED. Voting AYE: Crabtree, Kolbeck, Wink, Gross, Karr, Lesmeister, Mortenson, Reimer, Weisgram, Nesiba, Bartels, and Schoenbeck. EXCUSED: Bolin, Tobin, and Stevens.

Proposed Interim Study Topics and Committee Selection Process

Senator Crabtree presented the scope of the first proposed study for the 2024 Legislative interim. The scope of the study is to research and develop necessary and proper regulation of artificial intelligence among citizens and examine the use of artificial intelligence by state government. Further, the study will seek to define the state's authority, if any, to regulate access by minors to social media and internet websites, including age verification applications. The study may recommend appropriate policies within such authority.

Senator Crabtree moved, seconded by Representative Mortenson, to approve an interim study on Artificial Intelligence and Regulation of Internet Access by Minors. The motion passed on a roll call vote with 13 AYES and 2 EXCUSED. Voting AYE: Crabtree, Kolbeck, Tobin, Wink, Gross, Karr, Lesmeister, Mortenson, Reimer, Weisgram, Nesiba, Bartels, and Schoenbeck. EXCUSED: Bolin and Stevens.

Representative Mortenson presented the scope of the second proposed study for the 2024 Legislative interim. The scope of the study is to examine the methodology by which assessments are made for the purposes of real estate taxation within the State of South Dakota. The study will research the relative roles of the State Department of Revenue and local government units in assessing real estate. The study may recommend policies to increase the efficiency or effectiveness of assessment. Further, the study may recommend policies with the goals of improving the accuracy and consistency of real estate assessment.

Representative Mortenson moved, seconded by Senator Crabtree, to approve an interim study on Property Tax Assessment Methodology. The motion passed on a roll call vote with 10 AYES and 5 NAYS. Voting AYE: Crabtree, Kolbeck, Tobin, Wink, Gross, Karr, Lesmeister, Mortenson, Reimer, and Weisgram. Voting NAY: Bolin, Stevens, Nesiba, Bartels, and Schoenbeck.

Representative Karr asked will the Executive Board address men's prison design oversight during the interim.

Senator Schoenbeck stated the Interim Appropriations Committee will address men's prison design oversight through meetings with prison administration and will create an appropriations leadership subcommittee. Senator Schoenbeck added that LRC staff will complete a white paper on voter residency. Representative Gross discussed the need to research residency as it applies to other issues in state law beyond voting.

Senator Schoenbeck requested the Executive Board support the appointment by the Executive Committee of a Select Committee on Legislative Relationships with Ellsworth Air Force Base to allow the legislature to be proactive and better engage with issues that arise year-round.

Senator Crabtree moved, seconded by Senator Kolbeck, for the Executive Committee of the Executive Board to appoint a Select Committee on Legislative Relationships with Ellsworth Air Force Base. The motion passed on a roll call vote with 15 AYES. Voting AYE: Bolin, Crabtree, Kolbeck, Tobin, Wink, Gross, Karr, Lesmeister, Mortenson, Reimer, Stevens, Weisgram, Nesiba, Bartels, and Schoenbeck.

Representative Weisgram requested a white paper be written regarding eminent domain.

Representative Reimer moved, seconded by Representative Lesmeister, the Executive Board be adjourned. Motion prevailed on a voice vote.

The Executive Board adjourned at 1:58 p.m.