Folks, the full video of the May 7 Watertown Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum is now online, and it was good to share the stage. It was a polite evening, but the differences in vision could not have been more obvious. On Senate Bill 245, some candidates offered the gentle compliment that it was just a good start. I respect their optimism. However, I voted no because the bill bypassed the tax committee, was poorly developed, and pulled new sales tax revenue away from the bi

Good crowd in Goodwin This past Saturday night, the community of Goodwin hosted a candidate forum. South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands Brock Greenfield moderated the proceedings with clarity and fairness. Mary Nosbush and the dedicated members of the Deuel County Republicans served as gracious hosts. I extend my sincere gratitude to them for their efforts in organizing this important gathering. Instead of the typical images focused solely on the candidates, I

South Dakota achieved statehood in 1889. From that moment forward, our leaders faced a clear choice: build an economy grounded in low taxes, limited government, personal responsibility, and voluntary cooperation between citizens and the state, or descend into the chaos of high taxation and bureaucratic overreach that has crippled so many other places. They chose the former. The result is one of the strongest, most resilient economies in America. This is not luck. It is the pr

Taking a break on the floor On HB1005 (Data Center sales/use tax exemption): I was the prime sponsor who introduced the bill to bring major investment and economic growth to rural South Dakota with built-in protections. Dylan Jordan actively opposed it, calling it crony capitalism and stating he would be a "no" vote. On HB1188 (Limit liability of law enforcement and others when removing disabled vehicles from highways, rights-of-way, or public waters. A key public safety and

Leaflet from the SD Penitentiary Twine Plant Fellow District 4 Residents and South Dakotans, Listen carefully. I voted YES on the historic prison bill not out of convenience, but out of a deep, unflinching recognition of reality. Our families, our law enforcement officers on the front lines, and our communities are crying out for order in the face of disorder. Half-measures and polite excuses will not suffice when chaos reigns. I personally toured the old penitentiary. I wal

I found a letter from 1925. A long-gone relative of mine was looking to buy a farm near Hayti, and this appears to be his landlord’s response. That simple farmer-to-farmer transaction of $70 per acre started me on this quest. It got me thinking about the farms I grew up on and the farms all across District 4. I also started thinking about what the actual sales are telling us. This is where I ended up: In my professional role as an appraiser, sales indicate that productive far

Last DQ for the session! We returned to Pierre for veto day, and it was good to be back. We kicked off with caucus at noon and heard all about the Richmond Dam problem near Aberdeen. We had approved funding earlier in the session to begin repairs, but midway through the session Commissioner of School and Public Lands Brock Greenfield was delivered a new bid that came in much higher than the original. HB 1026 had given us 13,046,882 dollars. The bill we approved yesterday, SB

This list was compiled by me with assistance provided by grok. 2026 South Dakota Legislative Calendar Tax Committee Votes Roster (House Taxation Committee) January 2026 No votes taken (committee not yet active; only organizational session activities occurred). February 2026 Feb 10: HB 1258 (property tax bill transparency with QR code link; Do Pass) — Yea (advanced to floor) Feb 10: HB 1260 (municipal local property tax rebate programs; consent Do Pass) — Yea (advanced

Dear Neighbors, Our South Dakota Capitol March 12, 2026 The 2026 legislative session came to a close this week, and on Thursday, Governor Rhoden signed the major property tax relief bills, SB 96 and SB 245, into law. It was a historic moment, delivering what many are calling the largest property tax cut in South Dakota history. Homeowners across the state stand to see real savings, with estimates ranging from $500 to $1,200 annually depending on your home value and location.

See you there! Big thanks to Clint Hoyer for reaching out. Join us for a good conversation. We're all here together, let's always remember that.

Dear friends and neighbors of District 4, Governor Rhoden signing my HB1189 We now have only four days remaining in this legislative session. The clock is ticking, and with it comes a clear and weighty reminder of the heavy responsibility we carry. We are not here to chase applause or headlines, but to voluntarily shoulder the burden of bringing genuine order and practical results to the people we serve. I’m pleased to share real progress on the issues that matter most to our

Fun with Grok! Rural Renewal or Ruin: A Firm Call to Action from Rep. Kent Roe's Weekly Update and District 4's School Struggles By Rep. Kent Roe, South Dakota House of Representatives, District 4 February 27, 2026 Friends and Neighbors in District 4, Let's confront the realities of governance with unflinching resolve, because ignoring them won't make them go away. This week in Pierre, Crossover Day on February 24 put our commitment to truth and responsibility to the test,

Rep. Kent Roe (District 4) – Complete Legislative Record February 8–20, 2026 (101st South Dakota Legislative Session) I had 100% attendance with no excuses or absences. This record is compiled directly from official House Journals, committee minutes, and bill status pages on sdlegislature.gov as of February 27, 2026. February 8, 2026 No legislative activity (Sunday). House floor: No contested House floor roll calls recorded in the official House Journal. February 9, 202

Hello District 4 friends and neighbors, It's been a couple of weeks since my last update, and I appreciate your patience as the 2026 legislative session continues to move forward here in Pierre. As of today, February 13, we're well into the heart of the session, with plenty of activity on key bills and priorities that impact our communities. A key focus for me has been HB 1005 , the data center sales and use tax exemption bill. It was assigned to the House State Affairs Commi

A Dispatch from the Arena - The Fight Over HB 1005 The bill I brought forward – HB 1005 – got deferred to the 41st day in State Affairs. It’s straight-up tax policy, but it landed in the wrong committee and took a hit. Still, huge thanks to everyone who showed up to testify, whether you backed it or pushed back. Some of you drove hours in winter weather to have your say. That’s the real deal – regular people stepping into the ring, speaking plain truth face-to-face. That roo

Smokeout Rules in the South Dakota House of Representatives The "smokeout" (sometimes written as "smoke-out") is a procedural tool unique to the South Dakota Legislature, governed by Joint Rule 7-7 (applicable to both the House and Senate). Purpose- It allows members to force a bill or resolution out of committee and onto the full chamber floor for debate and voting, even if the committee has not advanced it or has effectively killed it (e.g., by tabling, indefinite postpone

Voting Record Summary Representative Kent Roe (District 4, Republican) South Dakota House of Representatives February 2 – February 6, 2026 101st Legislative Session This is an unofficial summary compiled for personal reference from official House Journals and committee minutes available at mylrc.sdlegislature.gov . For any official or public use, please consult the primary sources directly. ### February 2, 2026 (13th Legislative Day) – Floor Votes | Bill/Motion | Prime

Weekly Update Week 3 2026 Session- excerpted from correspondence to local newspapers. BTW- please subscribe to your local newspaper. Our small towns are important and these folks play a very important role. They also provide a grounded voice by sticking their necks out and putting their names on what they do. There is a reason their work is considered the "pulse of the community". So I feel a little guilty publishing here what I also sent them. Thankfully their reach is much

My Legislative Weekly Update Week Ending January 25, 2026 From Rep. Kent Roe (District 4, Hayti) – House Taxation & Transportation Committees District 4 & fellow South Dakotans, The 2026 session is moving fast here in Pierre, and property tax relief continues to be the issue everyone is talking about. As your representative and a member of both the House Taxation Committee and the House Transportation Committee, I’ve been right in the middle of the early discussions. Here’s m

Capitol & Annex view from the Southeast Hello District 4, We kicked off the 101 st legislative session on Tuesday. The Governor delivered his state of the state address. The rest of the day was spent in meetings with constituents and other legislators. Wednesday we heard from the Supreme Court and the Tribes. Wednesday night I attended the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems dinner and social event. It's rewarding to know these rural water systems are paying att