Senate concurs in House amendments to governor's property-tax relief bill, sets 3% cap and five-year sunset

The South Dakota Senate on March 11 concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 216, the governor's property-tax relief bill, approving a 3% cap on the measure and a five-year sunset provision by a roll-call vote of 29 yeas and 6 nays.

Senator Peterson urged colleagues to support the amendment package, saying the measure is part of longer-term reforms and noting the need for both short- and long-term relief. “Well, as you remember, senate bill 2 16 is the governor's property tax relief bill,” Peterson said on the Senate floor, and described the bill as part of “the long game.”

The amendments before the Senate alter sections 2 and 3 to set a 3% cap where an earlier version had a 2% limit and add a five-year sunset consistent with section 1 of the bill. Senator Peterson told the chamber that this bill is the last remaining property-tax measure on the Senate calendar for the session and urged concurrence with the House changes.

The roll call produced 29 yeas and 6 nays; the secretary announced the result after names were called. The Senate declared the motion carried and concurred in the House amendments. The action means the amended bill will proceed toward final enrollment and transmittal consistent with the legislative calendar.

The bill has been framed in floor remarks as part of a multi-year strategy for property-tax relief; no additional implementation details, funding mechanisms or administrative instructions were specified in the recorded remarks on the floor during the March 11 session.

Senator Peterson moved the concurrence; the motion carried on the recorded roll call. No subsequent amendments or conditions were stated on the floor record during the session.