LAB-GROWN MEAT PRODUCTS CONSIDERED BY HOUSE COMMITTEE IN PIERRE

PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) – A South Dakota House committee votes unanimously Tuesday to require special labels for lab-grown meat products.

House Bill 1022 aims to help consumers distinguish between traditional and cell-cultured meat.

The House Agriculture and Natural Resources -Committee voted 13-0 to approve HB 1022, requiring lab-grown meat products to be marked as “cell-cultured” or “lab-grown” on their labels.

“South Dakota consumers deserve transparency when deciding whether to purchase a product grown in a lab versus products grown by our hardworking farmers and ranchers,” said Cheyenne Tant, a Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources policy advisor.

The bill comes as federal regulators have begun approving lab-grown meat for production in the U.S. These products start with animal cells that are fed sugars and proteins to grow into muscle and fat tissue.

While supporting clear labeling, Erin Reese Clayton from the Good Food Institute suggested adding “cell cultivated” to the approved label language. The Department of Agriculture opposed any changes to the bill’s wording.

There were no opponents to the measure.

The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.

DAKTRONICS CONSIDERS CHANGING THE COMPANY’S JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION

BROOKINGS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Daktronics announced Tuesday that it will be holding a special meeting for shareholders to vote on changing the company’s jurisdiction of incorporation from South Dakota to Delaware.

This change would allow the company to make changes to its corporate governance standards.

If approved, the change would not affect the company’s business operations in Sioux Falls.

“We are proud of our long history in South Dakota and remain committed to maintaining our headquarters and operations in the state,” said Daktronics’ Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Reece Kurtenbach.

“While Daktronics’ legal jurisdiction may change, our home will not. Our corporate headquarters, along with important manufacturing, engineering, sales and service facilities and the vast majority of our employees, will remain in South Dakota, where we have been for more than 50 years,” said Kurtenbach.

By changing their legal domicile to Delaware, Daktronics can enhance shareholder rights while still benefiting from the exceptional work ethic and creativity of their South Dakota employees.

SOUTH DAKOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ACTS ON MODIFICATION OF MEDICAID EXPANSION REQUIREMENTS

PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) – The South Dakota House voted Tuesday to let voters decide whether to modify the state’s Medicaid expansion requirements if federal funding drops below current levels.

Representatives voted 59-7 to put the constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot. House Joint Resolution 5001 would remove the constitutional requirement for Medicaid expansion if federal matching funds fall below the current 90% rate.

“We need to be prepared for changing circumstances,” said Rep. Tony Venhuizen, R-Sioux Falls, the bill’s sponsor. He noted that every 10% reduction in federal funding would cost South Dakota $36 million annually.

Venhuizen added that it would not repeal expanded Medicaid but allow the legislature to deal with its financial ramifications.

Opponents argued the measure undermines voter intent after South Dakotans approved Medicaid expansion in 2022.

“This threatens our rural hospitals, which rely on Medicaid reimbursements to stay open,” said Rep. Kadyn Wittman. “We’re talking about real lives that will be impacted.”

Rep. Eric Emery, D-Rosebud, said if the legislature discontinued expanded Medicaid, it would disproportionately impact Native American South Dakotans.

If the Senate and voters approve, the change would take effect in July 2027. The measure wouldn’t automatically end expansion if federal funding decreases but would give legislators flexibility to debate continuing the program.

According to Rep. Erik Muckey, D-Sioux Falls, about 29,000 South Dakotans are currently enrolled in expanded Medicaid coverage.

IOWA LAWMAKERS LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC CAMERA REGULATIONS

DESMOINES, IA (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – After blocking dozens of speed enforcement cameras across the state last year, Iowa’s legislature is now looking at a proposal to keep fines from going out of state.

Some Iowa cities are contracting with private companies to administer their traffic camera programs. For example, Cedar Rapids pays a Swedish company $18 per paid speeding ticket and $22 per paid red light ticket.

State Rep. Henry Stone (R-Forest City) wants to see that money stay in-state.

“I don’t think it’s right that the collections are happening by companies in say Tennessee or Texas or California, that they have a right to Iowans’ tax money,” he said.

But – Gary Grant, a lobbyist representing the City of Cedar Rapids says it’s the most cost effective way to run the traffic camera program. He says lawmakers should take this into account as they look towards reducing property taxes this session.

“If we’re no longer able to do that, then we’ll have to assign that work to city employees and in an era where we’re being encouraged to explore smaller, smarter, governments, and less pressure on local property taxes, we think that this is the most efficient way to do it,” Grant said.

Stone pushes back, saying he’d rather have local police handle it.

“If cities were to hire more police officers, those police officers are not just going to sit there and their only job is to give out speeding tickets. They will be out there doing public service. They will be protecting neighborhoods and protecting Iowans across the state so there’s a dual purpose there,” he said.

Grant says it took 10 years of negotiations to get last year’s bill that regulated fines and locations of speeding cameras. He says he wants to see last year’s changes play out a bit longer before making tweaks.

“One of the frustrations that I think we have is that, you know, the legislature will pass like a sweeping change and then come back next year with a tweak. Let’s give things some time to work,” he said.

Stone’s bill also prevents cities from collecting unpaid fines from Iowans’ income tax returns.

The bill must now pass out of the House Public Safety Committee before it can be brought up for a vote.

NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS LOOKING AT TWO SEPERATE BILLS TO GIVE TEACHERS A BOOST FOR OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES

LINCOLN, NE – Two bills introduced last week in the Nebraska Legislature would see teachers receiving boosts to their pay, for different reasons.