House State Affairs & 10:00 AM/CT Senate State Affairs | 2026-02-18 [Source] Translate

The meeting began with procedural announcements, including a reminder for attendees to silence their phones and sign in if they planned to testify. A quorum was confirmed, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. The committee discussed House Bill 1275, which aims to establish age verification and parental consent requirements for app stores. Representative John Hughes introduced the bill, highlighting its goal to protect minors online and the support it has received from child advocacy organizations. Proponents, including representatives from the South Dakota Attorney General's Office and child safety experts, emphasized the importance of parental consent and app store responsibility in protecting children from harmful content. Opponents, including Doug Abraham from the App Association, raised concerns about privacy and the bill's requirement for state-issued IDs for app downloads. They argued that existing parental controls are sufficient and criticized the bill for shifting responsibility from app developers to app stores. The discussion included historical context from similar legislation in other states and concerns about potential legal challenges. The committee voted on House Bill 1275, which passed with eight votes in favor and three against. The discussion then shifted to House Bill 1196, concerning the selection of delegates for an Article 5 convention. Representative Heineman introduced the bill, which aims to clarify delegate responsibilities. Proponents emphasized its importance, while opponents questioned its necessity and raised concerns about potential risks of an unlimited convention. The committee then discussed House Bill 1222, which seeks to prohibit members of the Board of Economic Development from having financial interests in entities receiving public funds. Proponents argued it is necessary for public trust, while opponents expressed concerns about deterring qualified volunteers from serving on the board. The bill passed with seven votes in favor and four against. The meeting continued with discussions on House Bill 1246, which promotes transparency regarding non-disclosure agreements between data center developers and local governments. Testimonies against the bill highlighted concerns about protecting sensitive information and potential complications for data center development. The committee decided to defer further discussion on this bill. Senate Bill 127, which regulates data center operations to protect residents, was also discussed. Proponents emphasized the need for noise limits and setbacks, while opponents raised concerns about local control and the bill's definitions. Ultimately, the bill did not pass. Senate Bill 128, addressing large utility customers, was introduced by Senator Taffy Howard. The bill aims to manage large data centers without shifting costs to ordinary ratepayers. Proponents supported its transparency measures, while opponents raised concerns about stifling innovation and regulatory overlap. The committee voted to move the bill to the 41st day, resulting in its loss. Senate Bill 135 was introduced to protect residents from increased utility costs associated with data centers. Proponents argued it ensures data centers pay their own way, while opponents raised concerns about disrupting local control and economic development. The bill passed with a majority vote, allowing it to proceed to the floor. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was passed unanimously.