LEGISLATIVE REPORTS

We have completed the 9 week legislative session and what a journey it has been. The legislaturehasactedonover600 bills, resolutions and commemorations. The largest amount since the 90s. It almost feels like January 13th was yesterday because the time goes so fast there is always somewhere we need to be, someone we need to be talking to, bills that need to be read,informationweneedtoresearch, committee hearings on billsandmostimportantlyserving our districts best interests. During and prior to my 4 years inthelegislatureheateddebates on property taxes have been daily conversations. We ended up with around 30 proposals regarding property taxes. I am proud to say the legislature and theexecutivebranchputpolitics aside and worked tirelessly to finally deliver options for relief to owner occupied property taxes. In 2022 the legislature temporarily lowered the sales tax from 4.5 to 4.2%. Bills were introduced to make this relief permanent, but they ultimately died before I had a chance to vote on them. With the sunset in place the sales tax will go up next year automatically. SB 245 designates the future sales tax revenues offset owner occupied property tax. At the end of the day this will put more money into the hands of homeowners andhopefullyhelpthoselooking into homeownership. The hope is that the extra will provide future growth for schools in futurebudgets.Pairedwiththis bill was SB 96 an optional sales tax for counties for those counties with the highest property taxes. We looked at 2 optional sales tax ideas this year. The other was HB 1245 an optional tax for municipalities to build future projects. I voted against this bill. Hypothetically, if Sioux Falls implemented both these options this could be an additional 1.5% sales tax on you when you go to Sioux Falls for a Doctors appointment, basketball tournament, Christmas shopping, etc…. The bill is currently on the governor’s desk. This being said I encourage you to shop locally. District 19 has such great options for all our needs and we want to keep it that way. Each little town in District 19 has a special place in my heart and I love travelling to all our communities and supporting them. It has been an absolute honor to serve you the last 4 years. Putting my people 1st has been my mission the entire time I have served you. I can’t thank you enough for trustingmewithyourvote.Iam seeking re-election and humbly ask for your support once again to serve you.