The House passed Senate Bill 12, amended on the floor to remove a contested provision and to focus on limiting unlimited loans and transfers in campaign finance. The motion to amend the Senate measure was approved by a narrow margin, and final passage of the amended bill was recorded at ayes 38, nays 29, excused 1.

Representative Reich, who argued for the amendment and the bill’s intent, framed the measure as restoring reasonable limits and closing a loophole that allows unlimited loans to campaign accounts: “Allowing unlimited contributions can create the appearance that South Dakota politicians can be bought. Let's not allow this loophole to become a pathway.” Reich asked that a separate bill be used for federal-committee language to avoid single-subject concerns.

Opponents said the amendment and bill were targeted attempts to restrict specific outside political actors and described the approach as “weaponizing government” against political opponents. Representative Schaeffbauer said the measure targeted a private citizen and a PAC and urged members to reject the change.

Floor procedure was central to the debate: the House approved amendment 12b (which removed section 2) by a close roll call (34–33 in the amendment vote), then debated and passed the underlying measure as amended. The final vote on Senate Bill 12 as amended was ayes 38, nays 29, excused 1.

The bill as amended addresses limits on loans and transfers to campaigns; floor managers said section-specific language on federal-authorized committees was reintroduced as a standalone bill to be considered separately. The vote record shows close margins and underscores partisan disagreement over campaign-finance regulation and process.