STURGIS, S.D. — With the deadline to bring more bills to the legislature now passed, lawmakers are now focused on what bills have been introduced.
On Saturday, many questions were put at the feet of the local legislators at a Legislative Cracker Barrel, which was sponsored by the Meade County Republican Women and the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, at the Meade County Erskine Building.
Those questions were in reference to voters’ concerns over bills at the South Dakota legislative session.
Lawmakers were asked about medical marijuana, as they piece together the state’s program from scratch and reminded those voters of the fluid process.
“I would guarantee you that we’re going to put together this program and I’ll also guarantee you a year from now, there will be a whole bevy of bills to make little tweaks here and there to make this thing work better, and so it’s a work in progress,” said State Sen. Gary Cammack, who represents District 29.
Legislators were also faced with questions regarding Senate Bill 175. The bill proposes allocating $2.5 million in state funds for a shooting facility in Meade County, modeled after a similar bill that was killed in House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee last week.
But lawmakers say they’re focused on the concerns of the those who expressed opposition towards the bill and that the county will be stuck footing the expenses from the shooting range.
“What I’m afraid of is that Pennington County is going to get all the benefits and Meade County’s going to get all the expenses and I want to try and help get that situation squared away before I can vote yes to it,” said State Rep. Dean Wink, who represents District 29.
Those in attendance also asked lawmakers for their stance on House Bill 1039, which would change taxation of agriculture land for producers.
“The number of crop acres compared to what’s actually being cropped in the county is horribly mismatched,” said State Rep. Kirk Chaffee, who represents District 29. “Meade County probably has about 350,000 acres of actual crop stuff, but yet we’re being charged for about 700,000 acres. This bill is trying to go back and focus on that point and secure it.”
The next cracker barrel legislative session is set for Saturday, March 5.
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