MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — A close South Dakota Senate vote on incentives for data centers failed this week after a lawmaker’s absence on the chamber floor, raising new concerns in Pierre about senators missing votes during tight roll calls.
Republican Sen. John Carley of Piedmont missed the Senate’s Tuesday afternoon floor session, including votes tied to data center legislation. Carley later told Searchlight he had an eye doctor visit and described it as an “unexpected health issue.”
The absence became significant as the Senate considered Senate Bill 239, a proposal backed by Sen. Casey Crabtree, R-Madison, dealing with incentives related to large projects such as data centers. The bill received 17 votes in favor and 16 against in an earlier vote but fell short of the 18 votes required for passage. When it came up again on reconsideration Tuesday, the vote failed 16-17 after senators delayed proceedings while attempting to locate Carley.
The episode also drew attention to strategy around potential tie votes and whether the lieutenant governor could break a 17-17 deadlock, an issue Dakota News Now reported has been shaped by a recent South Dakota Supreme Court ruling.