District 19 Senator Kyle Schoenfish 2024 Legislative Article – Week 3

By Mitchell Now January 29, 2024 5:42 am

The 2024 legislative session is one third of the way done with the completion of Week 3.

Senate Bill 75 modifies the definition of a legal newspaper. SB 75 would allow a newspaper company that circulates at least 500 newspapers and has a minimum of 200 online subscribers to qualify as a legal newspaper regardless of whether the paper is distributed for free or for a price. Currently, only newspapers that charge for the paper are eligible to be a legal newspaper of record. The definition is important as it determines if a newspaper qualifies to publish government notices. The popularity of online news publications is growing. This bill recognizes that, while also ensuring legal notices are still printed in a newspaper. One example is “The Dakota Scout” – an online publication that also prints a weekly newspaper in Sioux Falls. The Scout features in- depth political and government-based content and more. The newspaper was founded by two reporters with over 30 years of experience. SB 75 maintains protections for local newspapers and the taxpayers that depend on them to stay informed. I have always supported our newspapers and again thank them for their willingness to publish our articles during sessson. SB 75 has the support of the South Dakota News-Media Association and the South Dakota Municipal League. It passed the Senate, 33 to 0.

A number of bills are related to cannabis. One of the bills is Senate Bill 43 which greatly increases the fees for medical cannabis establishments. They already pay substantial fees to the state and counties. I voted against SB 43; it passed the Senate, 22-11.

SB 17 rolls back a change made last year that had a 30 day residency requirement that said voters had to attest that they lived in South Dakota for 30 days. The policy disenfranchises RV voters who pay taxes to South Dakota and list South Dakota as their address. A good number of these residents are voters here in District 19. It is clear that disenfranchising these voters is unconstitutional. I was one of six Senators who opposed the change last year and I voted to fix it this year; it passed, 31-2.

The deadline to file bills will be week four on Feb. 1.

I can be contacted at 605-660-6468 or kyle.schoenfish@sdlegislature.gov.

Kyle Schoenfish
District 19 State Senator
Chairman of Senate Education

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