2016 South Dakota Legislative Recap

There were a number of bills that in some way could affect conservation and the effort to protect and restore waterways in our state. The bills with the greatest impact are recapped here.

• Conservation Won: A bill to end Perpetual Conservation Easements was defeated on the House floor. FBSR supports perpetual easements.
• Conservation Lost: A bill to allow farmers to voluntarily request that up to 50’ of any land along a waterway planted in a riparian strip be taxed as non-cropland instead of cropland passed both the House and the Senate, but was vetoed by the governor. The House fell 10 votes short of overriding the veto. The SD Corn Growers were the only group opposed to this bill despite support from other agricultural groups, and despite unanimous support in the Senate. This bill was strongly supported by FBSR as a way to protect streambanks from erosion and filter runoff from cropland and grazing, resulting in cleaner water.
• More Study Needed:  A bill to study SD’s tax structure of taxing land based on the "highest and best use” was funded for research by SDSU to consider additional factors other than the sole basis today of “what is physically possible.” FBSR supports this initiative.
• Wait & See Developments: A bill that consolidates zoning appeals and revises the authority of county commissioners in adopting zoning amendments was passed.  The goal of the bill was to speed up agricultural development, allowing small and large developments to move ahead.

We would like to thank he SD Wildlife Federation, the Izaak Walton League, Ducks Unlimited, Dakota Rural Action, the Sierra Club and the Grassland Coalition for their work on behalf of conservation each and every year. All of these organizations work together to protect our natural resources.