With the legislative session behind the state, lawmakers are looking towards the summer for next steps. The state Executive Board met this week aiming to get the summer study agenda in order.
From artificial intelligence to property taxes, a summer study is a useful opportunity for lawmakers to get their footing before attempting to sign new policy into law.
Outgoing Watertown Republican Sen. Lee Schoenbeck explained what he sees as worthy topics to study.
“Good summer studies, in my opinion, either address policy issues you know you have to do next year, or they educate the legislature on a subject they need to understand," Schoenbeck said.
One study pushed by Fort Pierre Republican Rep. Will Mortenson would take on property taxes.
“The scope of the study is to examine the methodology of which assessments are made for the purposes of real estate taxation within the state of South Dakota," Motenson said. "The study will research the relative roles of the Department of Revenue and local government units in assessing real estate. The study may recommend policies to increase the efficiency or effectiveness of assessment.”
That study wasn’t universally supported, with Schoenbeck saying he’d rather go to the dentist than sit through more property tax debates. It was approved on a 10-5 vote.
However, the study of A.I. and regulating minors’ access to the internet was universally supported. That was spearheaded by Madison Republican Sen. Casey Crabtree.
“The scope of the study is to research and study necessary and proper regulations of artificial intelligence among citizens and examine the use of artificial intelligence by state government," Crabtree said. "Further, the study will seek to define the states authority, if any, to regulate access by minors to social media and internet websites, including age verification applications.”
That summer study was approved by the board unanimously. A committee on the legislature’s relationship with Ellsworth Air Force Base was also approved.