Votes at a glance: House passes HB1008 on hybrid energy siting; HB1012 places One Call board under Public Safety

House members on the floor in Pierre gave final passage to two bills after second reading and committee consideration.

House Bill 1008 — hybrid energy facility siting: HB1008 clarifies that a "hybrid facility" (a generating facility that combines more than one type of generation, such as wind and solar) is subject to Public Utilities Commission siting review when the project's total output at a single point of interconnection is 100 megawatts or greater. Representative Peterson, speaking for the bill, said the measure ensures consistent application of siting protections "regardless of the number of megawatts attributable to the individual generating components of the overall project." The House Commerce committee reported the bill with a favorable recommendation; the sponsor reported a committee vote of 13-0. On final passage the clerk reported "ayes 69;" the bill was declared passed.

House Bill 1012 — One Call notification board administration: HB1012 clarifies the status of the statewide One Call notification board as an agency administered by the South Dakota Department of Public Safety and outlines duties of the board. Representative Kaiser spoke during final consideration. The bill passed the House; the clerk reported ayes 68, nays 1.

Other floor actions: the House approved the journal, adopted committee reports following a motion by Representative Odenbach, and voted to appoint a small committee to escort the new governor to the rostrum earlier in the joint session (motion by Senator Melhoff; motion carried). Several additional first readings and committee referrals were announced on the floor.

What the votes mean: HB1008 updates definitions used in chapter 49-41B addressing energy facility siting to treat multi-technology projects consistently at the 100-megawatt threshold identified in the statute. HB1012 reorganizes administrative oversight of the One Call board by placing it under the Department of Public Safety; the bill text and committee reports should be consulted for details on duties and authority.

Officials and clerks recorded the roll and the vote tallies on the floor. No amendments that changed the final outcomes were reported during final passage on the floor that day.