Weekly Update Week 2
- Kent Roe
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
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 my take on what happened this week from the House side.
House Taxation Committee:
We’ve hit the ground running with property tax bills, which is no surprise given how important this is back home.
HB 1032 (the “banking” bill that would have removed the limit on accumulating unused index factor): We heard it on January 22. After solid testimony from both sides, the committee voted to defer it to the 41st day, which effectively shelves it for this session. I supported that move. We need to be careful about giving local governments more room to raise taxes without stronger offsets.
Bills I’m watching closely in Taxation:
HB 1036: Limits annual valuation increases on owner-occupied homes and non-agricultural property. This one is up soon and could be a real help for homeowners facing big jumps in assessed values.
HB 1051: Revises school district property tax levies and adjusts state aid formulas. It ties directly into the broader relief conversation.
A few others on tax increment financing (HB 1074/1075) and severance tax distributions (HB 1089).
We’ll have more hearings next week, and I’ll keep pushing for solutions that deliver meaningful relief without shifting the burden elsewhere.
My Sponsored Bills
This Session I’m proud to have authored and prime sponsored two bills this session:
HB 1005 (referred to House State Affairs Committee): This bill provides a sales and use tax exemption on enterprise information technology equipment, computer software, electricity, and related services used exclusively in qualifying data center operations. The exemption can run up to 50 years for projects permitted in the next decade. By putting South Dakota on equal footing with more than 40 other states that already offer similar incentives, we can attract major high-tech investments, including potential AI and computing facilities. This will bring good-paying jobs and economic growth without raising taxes on everyday South Dakotans. This week I had a productive meeting with Governor Larry Rhoden, Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen, Bill Even (Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development), Ryan Brunner (Senior Policy Advisor, Governor's Office), Rep. Tim Czmowski (District 6), Rep. Kevin Van Diepen (District 22), and Sen. Casey Crabtree (District 8) to discuss HB 1005 and its potential to strengthen our state’s economy. The bill is in State Affairs but has not yet been calendared for a hearing.
HB 1026 (referred to House Commerce and Energy Committee): This bill requires licensing for individual property data collectors and registration for the companies that employ them, with penalties for noncompliance. As a certified appraiser myself, I know firsthand how critical accurate, professional data collection is to fair property appraisals. This measure will increase transparency, accountability, and standards in the process. It provides important consumer protections for homeowners and borrowers in real estate transactions and lending decisions. I’m pleased that HB 1026 is calendared for a hearing tomorrow in House Commerce and Energy.
House Transportation Committee
Things have been quieter on our committee this week, with no major hearings yet. We have routine bills moving through on vehicle titles, trailer registrations, military excise tax exemptions, and similar items. One bill from Transportation, HB 1034 (increasing fees for mailed decals and plates), advanced to the floor and passed the House this week.
Overall House Activity
The full House has been active on the floor, moving a number of technical and routine bills forward, mostly on consent or by strong bipartisan margins. Property tax relief remains the top priority, and our House approach continues to emphasize practical limits on valuation growth and caps rather than sweeping changes.
Over in the Senate, Gov. Rhoden’s SB 96 (optional county sales tax to offset property taxes) and related ideas are progressing, but no direct House companions have emerged yet. I’ll keep you updated.
Upcoming Floor Action – Monday, January 26 (9th Legislative Day)
The House convenes at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow with a full agenda: motions on HCR 6004 (encouraging physical cash transactions) and reconsideration of HB 1078 (high school graduation coursework rules), plus second readings on bills including HB 1035, HB 1011, HB 1015, HB 1008, HB 1029, HB 1002, HB 1020, HB 1044 (rural health appropriation with emergency clause), HB 1080, and HB 1062. I’ll be on the floor for all votes.
My Voting Record This Session (as of January 25, 2026)
For full transparency, here’s the verified running list. All votes are cross-checked directly from the official South Dakota House Journals (published daily at mylrc.sdlegislature.gov) and LegiScan roll call records (legiscan.com/SD/rollcall). Most early-session items passed unanimously or by voice vote (no divided rolls yet).
Committee Votes (House Taxation)
HB 1032 – Motion to defer to the 41st day: Passed 9-4. I voted Yes (in favor of deferring). Source: House Taxation Committee minutes (available via sdlegislature.gov committee archives).
Floor Votes
Consent calendar items (various days, e.g., HB 1030, HB 1060, HB 1088, HB 1023, HB 1024): Passed unanimously. I voted Yea. Source: House Journals (e.g., January 16–23 PDFs at mylrc.sdlegislature.gov).
HB 1052 (Spearfish Canyon Foundation property transfer): Passed House. I voted Yea. Source: LegiScan and House Journal.
HB 1009 (golf cart speed limits, removed from consent): Passed House. I voted Yea. Source: House Journal.
HB 1049 (electric infrastructure protection): Passed House as amended. I voted Yea. Source: LegiScan roll call records.
HB 1016 (controlled substances schedule update, emergency): Passed House. I voted Yea. Source: House Journal.
HB 1034 (mailed decals/plates fee increase): Passed House. I voted Yea. Source: House Journal (Transportation Committee report).
HB 1044 (rural health transformation appropriation): Advanced. I voted Yea. Source: House Journal.
HCR 6003 (Black Hills conservation and forest fire mitigation): Adopted. I voted Yea. Source: House Journal.
HCR 6005 (National Blood Donor Month): Adopted. I voted Yea. Source: House Journal.
HCR 6006 (urging congressional delegation on foreign aid): Adopted. I voted Yea. Source: LegiScan roll call.
HB 1078 (high school graduation coursework rules): Failed initial passage (reconsideration pending tomorrow). I voted Nay. Source: House Journal and LegiScan tracking.
Full journals and roll calls are public at sdlegislature.gov and legiscan.com/SD—feel free to verify any vote yourself.
I’ll keep this list updated every week.
I appreciate the messages and input I’ve received from District 4 residents. Keep them coming. I’m here working for you.
Stay warm,
Rep. Kent Roe
House District 4 (Hayti)
