Senate debates township land-use bill, approves measures on dams, fees, health workforce and teacher stipends

PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Senate on Feb. 27 debated a high-profile land-use bill that opponents said would strip townships of decision-making over public right-of-way matters before rejecting it, and approved a package of other bills that included funding for a dam repair, an upgrade to the Secretary of State’s business-filings platform, and changes to health-care and education programs.

Senators spent most of the day on House Bill 12-61, a measure the sponsor described as a permissive framework to ensure townships, counties and municipalities are notified and included in conditional-use permitting that could affect public rights of way. "This bill is created to protect family farms and their ability to operate efficiently and transparently," Senator Davis said on the floor, arguing the measure would provide “clarity in the permitting process” and require two separate notices to townships.

Opponents, led by Senator Nelson, said the bill would remove townships’ authority and effectively allow counties to grant private uses in rights of way. "This bill removes the township's role as the decision maker when dealing with what goes in the public right of way and gives it to the county," Nelson said. She warned the change could permit private infrastructure in ditches and urged the Senate to send the issue back for further local negotiation.

After more than an hour of debate, the Senate voted 14 yeas to 21 nays and the president…