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Appropriations committee advances bill to fund airport terminal improvements statewide
Summary
The House Appropriations Committee voted 7–2 to advance Senate Bill 127, which would authorize state grants to support airport terminal improvements and expansions across South Dakota; proponents said the funds would leverage federal dollars, while the Bureau of Finance and Management warned it shifts the state's historical funding approach.
The House Committee on Appropriations voted 7–2 to send Senate Bill 127 to the full House, advancing a proposal to appropriate state money for grants supporting airport terminal improvements and expansions.
Sponsors and airport officials said the money would help smaller and regional airports leverage federal funding and respond to rising travel demand. “Airports are economic machines,” Representative Steve Duffy said in committee, pointing to state and local benefits. Rapid City Regional Airport Executive Director Patrick Dame described a three‑phase terminal expansion with phase 1 at $83 million and said the airport had assembled roughly $40 million in federal funding for that phase but still needed state or local contributions to complete work such as replacing TSA equipment and improving baggage handling. Dan Lettler, airport director in Sioux Falls, said…
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