Gov. Dennis Daugaard has called a special session for September 12.

The session will address legislation allowing the state to enforce remote sellers to collect and remit sales tax.

In addition to calling the session, Daugaard will be appointing three people to fill vacancies in the Legislature to ensure the districts are fully represented during the special session.

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed a bill into law expanding campaign finance disclosure requirements.

House Bill 1003 requires candidates and committees to itemize any contribution received from an entity.

An entity includes corporations, labor unions, and non-profits, as well as other associations not a natural person or political committee.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard called a special session for June 12 to consider legislation relating to public recreational use of non-meandered waters overlying private property.

The issue comes after a Supreme Court opinion prohibited state officials from facilitating access to waters on private property.

Under the drafted legislation to be considered by lawmakers during the special session, South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Department would be able to negotiate with landowners to open access to such lakes for recreation.

On March 14, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed Senate Bill 54 into law. The bill revises many requirements dealing with campaign finance to strengthen campaign finance laws after the repeal of Initiated Measure 22.

Senate Bill 54 will allow organizations, such as corporations and labor unions, to contribute directly to candidates. The measure also restricts candidates from using campaign funds for personal expense.

Senate Bill 54 was initially introduced with provisions to lower contribution limits; however, those provisions were amended prior to the bill’s passage to reflect pre-Initiated Measure 22 limits.

On March 10, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed a series of bills aimed at replacing ethics and campaign finance laws after the repeal of Initiated Measure 22.

Among the bills signed into law, Senate Bill 131 prohibits elected officers and officials from lobbying in the two-year period after termination of service in the state government.

House Bill 1073 was approved to set a $100 annual cap on gifts from lobbyists to elected officials. House Bill 1073 also defines “gift” to exclude food, beverages, and entertainment.

The Governor also signed House Bill 1076, establishing a government accountability board.

The Governor is expected to approve other pending Initiated Measure 22 replacement bills. The pending bills currently on the Governor’s desk include Senate Bill 54 to revise campaign finance limits and disclosure requirements and Senate Bill 171 to establish a government accountability task force to study campaign finance.

On February 28, the House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 131 to ban elected officers and other officials from lobbying during a period of two years after termination of service in the state government. The bill now goes to Gov. Dennis Daugaard for consideration.

Senate Bill 131 is one of the pieces of legislation that was introduced by lawmakers to placate citizen outrage after lawmakers repealed Initiated Measure 22, the voter approved measure to overhaul ethics and campaign finance laws.

Governor Dennis Daugaard is preparing to call a special session of the Legislature. The Governor gave notice to state lawmakers of his plans citing developments with the construction of a new State Veterans Home in Hot Springs. Lawmakers approved funding for the project during the regular session, but the lowest bid is more than $10 million more than the appropriated amount.

The special session is expected to be called for late June and last no longer than a day.

Photo of Gov. Dennis Daugaard by Otis 1000 on Wikipedia.