MINUTES
MINUTES
Comprehensive Property Tax Task Force
Senator Chris Karr, Chair
Representative Jon Hansen, Vice Chair
First Meeting, 2025 Interim Room 413 – State Capitol
Friday, May 30, 2025 Pierre, South Dakota
The first interim meeting of the Comprehensive Property Tax Task Force was called to order at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025, virtually and in Room 413 of the State Capitol, Pierre, South Dakota.
A quorum was determined with the following members answering roll call: Representatives Julie Auch (remote), Jon Hansen (remote), Leslie Heinemann (remote), John Hughes (remote), Jana Hunt (remote), Greg Jamison (remote), Scott Odenbach (remote), Peri Pourier (remote), and Senators Randy Deibert (remote), Red Dawn Foster, Taffy Howard (remote), Chris Karr (remote), Jim Mehlhaff (remote), Sue Peterson (remote); and Public Member Kirk Chaffee (remote). Senators Ernie Otten and Glen Vilhauer; and Public Member Jim Terwilliger were excused.
Staff members present included Will Steward, Senior Research Analyst; Bill McDonald, Fiscal Analyst; Jamie Fry, Network Administrator; and Bailey Fierro, Administrative Specialist.
NOTE: For the purpose of continuity, the following minutes are not necessarily in chronological order. All referenced documents distributed at the meeting are hyperlinked to the document on the Legislative Research Council website. This meeting was live streamed. Each section contains a hyperlink to the time stamp pertaining to that item in the
archived live stream available at sdlegislature.gov.
Task Force Discussion
Representative Odenbach moved, seconded by Senator Howard, to appoint Senator Karr Chair, and Representative Hansen as Vice Chair of the Comprehensive Property Tax Task Force. The motion prevailed on a roll call vote with 13 AYES, 1 NAY and 2 EXCUSED. Voting AYE: Auch, Hansen, Heinemann, Hughes, Hunt, Jamison, Odenbach, Pourier, Foster, Howard, Karr, Mehlhaff, and Petrson. Voting NAY: Deibert. EXCUSED: Otten, and Vilhauer. (02:35.380)
The members of the task force discussed the scope of study. (07:17.820)
Senator Karr suggested the task force adopt three work groups: School Funding Formula, Local Government Finance, and State Government Finance. (22:58.460)
The task force discussed other possible work groups. (25:23.680)
Representative Odenbach moved, seconded by Representative Hansen, to adopt the three work groups: School Funding Formula, Local Government Finance, and State Government Finance. The motion prevailed on a roll call vote with 12 AYES, 1 NAY, and 3 EXCUSED. Voting AYE: Auch, Hansen, Heinemann, Hughes, Hunt, Jamison, Odenbach, Pourier, Foster, Howard, Karr, and Mehlhaff. Voting NAY: Deibert. EXCUSED: Otten, Peterson, and Vilhauer: (1:04:56.980)
Mr. Will Steward, Senior Research Analyst, Legislative Research Council, shared the upcoming meeting dates with the task force. The group will meet June 25, July 17, August 13, September 23, and October 22, 2025. (1:10:19.100)
Senator Foster moved, seconded by Representative Auch, that the Comprehensive Property Tax Task Force be adjourned. The motion prevailed on a voice vote (01:24:39.730)
The Comprehensive Property Tax Task Force adjourned at 3:00 p.m. (CT).