[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325439,"mediaKeyId","2333184-9324ceccffffb31b28a1480fe77e3c95","parentId",2333184,"title","Committee adopts amendment to redirect $3 million from tobacco prevention to general fund amid budget pressure","audioSeconds",1512,"startMs",3750000,"endMs",5262000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333184-9324ceccffffb31b28a1480fe77e3c95&start=3750&end=5262","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333184-9324ceccffffb31b28a1480fe77e3c95/thumbnail_3750000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325439/South-Dakota/Committee-adopts-amendment-to-redirect-3-million-from-tobacco-prevention-to-general-fund-amid-budget-pressure","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325439-b24cb3107fee3ad0aec56f198ba26537/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196607&Signature=h~HCVHIgRs7f4oLp-fUuydWcdU7bEq5ci3qagHNXIEv4G9LvUrU3lgbmifMt3Iqeolej7jGhLkZFFRDbY7rYwmlnsxLnkmOzBFJBGB7QQtKTaNKaLktMumfReMVwUWABd42PV4NNEL~J0AeWUa~CcVBwX--in3IJmv41QkQfzo1ZhyN5ZevPKfmMUzWkaU8rINaevfgSGzrv7tmc01giAkQkIspXiKftR~pnoep8JMnIZv1aIPXZoxraBYVidKVCTOR2kZGjOiTO5ltFykvBWwgMLebzLEQH4NvTYrtIXXbQafHZAgWfuHKJC0Ci2OM8~pT-NRK1O7yg4AbgqYxvLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of South Dakota","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Appropriations Committee amended and approved Senate Bill 54 to change how cigarette and other tobacco tax revenue is distributed, reducing the dedicated tobacco-prevention allocation from $5 million to $2 million and making an additional $3 million available to the general fund.

Jim Toeliger of the Bureau of Finance and Management, who introduced the amendment, said the state faces large mandatory budget increases, particularly for Medicaid, and that tobacco use has declined substantially over the last decade. He told the committee that young-adult tobacco use fell from 32 percent in 2014 to 7.8 percent in 2024 and that high-school tobacco use fell from 17 percent in 2014 to 4.6 percent in 2024. Toeliger said the amendment would still leave approximately $3 million available for tobacco prevention when combined with federal grant funding to the Department of Health.

Opponents warned the cut could jeopardize progress. Jennifer Stalley (testifying for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network) recounted the program's origins and said the 2006 voter-approved tobacco tax included a dedicated $5 million for tobacco prevention; she argued that reduced funding risks reversing gains, particularly as new nicotine products such as e-cigarettes and pouches have emerged. Stalley said that while adult cigarette smoking decreased, the state still spends more in Medicaid costs related to smoking than it collects in tobacco tax revenue.

Department of Health staff and other witnesses provided data on youth vaping and tobacco trends. Beth Dacken of the Department of Health reported vaping rates among middle-school students fell from 6.7 percent in 2019 to 3.4 percent in 2023 and that high-school vaping fell from 23.9 percent in 2019 to 14.7 percent in 2023.

Committee members debated prevention versus short-term budget needs. BFM's Toeliger said some Tobacco Prevention Fund dollars were previously used for mosquito-control grants and urged more targeted use of funds. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved the bill as amended; the roll call produced a committee vote of 5 aye, 3 nay, 1 excused and sent SB 54 to the Senate floor as amended.

Why it matters: The change reduces the statutory dedication to tobacco prevention and directs more revenue to the general fund in a year with substantial Medicaid and other mandatory cost increases. Supporters framed the change as \"spending smarter\" given declines in cigarette use; opponents urged preserving voter-directed prevention funding to guard against emerging nicotine products.

What comes next: SB 54 (as amended) advances to the full Senate for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Appropriations - Day 22","oneSentenceSummary","After debate, the Senate Appropriations Committee amended SB 54 to reduce the Department of Health's tobacco-prevention allocation from $5 million to $2 million, sending $3 million to the general fund. Health advocates warned the reduction could undermine prevention work despite declines in tobacco use.","taxTitle","2025 Legislative SD, South Dakota","taxId",77845,"location","South Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325443,"Appropriations committee recommends higher fee caps for barber licensing board to preserve independence",1247,2488000,3735000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333184-9324ceccffffb31b28a1480fe77e3c95&start=2488&end=3735","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333184-9324ceccffffb31b28a1480fe77e3c95/thumbnail_2488000.jpg","/articles/6325443/South-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-recommends-higher-fee-caps-for-barber-licensing-board-to-preserve-independence","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325443-6b8fe6b80d1eec29dd7471d5c5788ae7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196607&Signature=kQ6zxRqPqV5QvGryo90yqjN2dTi7eDAFiLw2T003inlsD8iP1fi0Pk3NDn46oU15lOELM9MkjvL6EB~7Uqzt9zP5vFLJWuOQF3ZNfSc-ili4sSE7EENqJ~DCVc3A9zYsphmyUbZ2~0RAY9C4hrgTslh7EFhsKVc3Z2yCc7SZ5waK7AxShjLXp8tW9cmYEPFDNiQmITqbdcI2tDMvHv1wXzuWgRANs5yS6M1XrcBmxJVDg~4ZabIcruerKN4lFtFEeHE-Qpo1Z2n30MOBoBWTaRFXDAL20E3vmOGaLUoNumt~zBS327P7pVCIAkm~16soxBM4hCrCa1UBrOVK-4yd4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Appropriations Committee gave Senate Bill 28 a unanimous due-pass recommendation after the Board of Barber Examiners and barber-school representatives said higher statutory fee caps are needed to stabilize the board's finances and prevent consolidation with the cosmetology commission.

Jody Amer, director of professional licensing for the Board of Barber Examiners, told the committee the board has far fewer licensees (around 200 barbers statewide) than related boards and has exhausted reserve funds. \"The board's licensee database, its most essential tool has become old and brittle and now poses risks and limitation to the board's operations,\" Amer said, adding the board needs updated systems to support online payments and renewals.

Donnie Joseph, owner of the South Dakota Barber College and a proponent, said the fee-cap increase is intended to help the board remain independent from the cosmetology commission. Joseph also described a practical-exam bottleneck: while written exams are available online, practical exams require board members to proctor on-site and currently occur infrequently, delaying full licensure for graduates.

Committee members focused questions on exam frequency, how the fees were calculated and the potential impact on small-town barbers. Amer said the caps in the bill are maximums; boards will set actual fees by rule, and the fee model was based on a five-year projection intended to sustain the board's operations without general fund support. She said the board currently operates at roughly 0.2 full-time equivalent staff for barber licensing and that higher fee revenue could fund more exam dates and staff time.

Supporters emphasized that allowing the board to increase fee caps would let it restore services cut to preserve solvency and avoid merging with the cosmetology commission, which some barbers oppose.

Senator Miskivens moved due-pass; Senator Lapke seconded. The committee recorded nine yes votes and recommended the bill to the floor with a due-pass.

Why it matters: proponents said the barber board serves small numbers of licensees and needs higher fee authority to maintain licensing services and data security without general fund dollars. Opponents did not appear in committee testimony; some senators said they expect to vote for the increase but will watch for concrete improvements in exam availability.

What comes next: SB 28 moves to the Senate floor with a committee due-pass recommendation.","The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously gave SB 28 a due-pass recommendation after the Board of Barber Examiners and the South Dakota Barber College said higher fee caps are needed to sustain board operations, support a new licensing database, and preserve an independent barber board.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325449,"Senate committee backs revenue-neutral shift to fund reemployment assistance operations",1382,1086000,2468000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333184-9324ceccffffb31b28a1480fe77e3c95&start=1086&end=2468","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333184-9324ceccffffb31b28a1480fe77e3c95/thumbnail_1086000.jpg","/articles/6325449/South-Dakota/Senate-committee-backs-revenue-neutral-shift-to-fund-reemployment-assistance-operations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325449-a6140ad02d79f7d2a195384f54244d6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196607&Signature=DFwmvBqhG00xZvsEtLSo7YiFC4aoG5RTTI9be5FzLlIJM62hhWWzaYxBKLUu33mljPmKdODQJHamhpuvhRRH6xmpdbdeFUZRxK-oBYBhjEqGHB79WfqKa16tGT0y-ujrkVZgpWiVAloDv~2sYS1Qd75qBMoXc5V1V-B~87JqfvbkIMy8opKg1yOufQLFKLST17-PPcEWYmsZ6ztYbmCKUgAlT5eBOHS7iC9VUxY7vl6AftEKmFRIMlX1AtS4wsSyqgXYwTNrEWHiLRQEjqQvj27AmigMNTz-u6GmgLJOGx~dIxtETYeEo6kOR9UFNRP7ZZ8-4pyBckoWQRiaQA4u7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to give Senate Bill 26 a due-pass recommendation after hearing that the measure would lower employer unemployment contribution revenue by $3 million while increasing an administrative fee by $3 million to keep the state's Reemployment Assistance program operating.

Marsha Holtman, with the Department of Labor and Regulation, told the committee SB 26 \"lowers employer taxes ... by $3,000,000 while it increases the administrative fee charged to employers for the operations of the Unemployment Insurance Program by $3,000,000.\" She described the change as revenue neutral and said federal rules limit trust fund dollars to benefit payments, so administrative costs must be covered by the separate fee.

The bill would reduce employer contribution tables starting in 2026 and raise the administrative fee from $3 per employee to $12 per employee per year (an increase Holtman said translates to about $9 per employee annually for many businesses). Holtman testified the state trust fund is currently solvent at about $216 million but cannot be used for administrative costs, and she warned that without additional administrative revenue the department could need to cut roughly one-third of staff (from 76 to 51), which would impair benefit payment timeliness, appeals processing, fraud detection and federal compliance.

Business groups and trade associations testified in favor. Nathan Sanderson, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, told the committee the measure is the only proposal this session that is net neutral to business and said paying the modest fee increase is preferable to risking loss of the FUTA credit, which could raise employer federal tax liabilities dramatically. David Owen of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce called the bill \"irritating, annoying and icky\" but said the department has managed the program well and the change is necessary. Other proponents included the Associated General Contractors and the Society for Human Resource Managers of South Dakota.

Committee members asked how the fee change affects FUTA credits and whether the impact would fall disproportionately on small employers. Holtman explained the state retains FUTA credits by meeting solvency and federal performance metrics; she said the fee shift helps maintain staff levels and performance metrics that protect the state's FUTA credit. She also said the fee effect is spread across employers and that many small employers would see only a modest annual increase.

Senator Vilhauer moved adoption of the bill; Senator Howard seconded. The committee recorded nine yes votes and the bill was recommended to the floor with a due-pass.

Why it matters: supporters said the change protects the state's FUTA credit and avoids a much higher potential federal tax on employers, while opponents (none were recorded in committee) would need to point to alternatives to maintain operations without administrative-fee increases.

What comes next: SB 26 carries forward to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation.","The Senate Appropriations Committee gave SB 26 a due-pass recommendation after testimony that the bill would lower employer unemployment taxes by $3 million while raising the program's administrative fee by the same amount to cover operating costs and protect federal FUTA credits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts amendment to redirect $3 million from tobacco prevention to general fund amid budget pressure

Appropriations committee recommends higher fee caps for barber licensing board to preserve independence

Senate committee backs revenue-neutral shift to fund reemployment assistance operations