(C) South Dakota Searchlight This story was originally published by South Dakota Searchlight and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Noem approves out-of-state vehicle title fee, signs other bills • South Dakota Searchlight [1] ['Searchlight Staff', 'More From Author', '- March'] Date: 2024-03-05 South Dakota is about to become a less attractive place for out-of-staters to title a vehicle. Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill into law this week that will add a $100 fee to the process for anyone who does not have a South Dakota driver license or identification card, or an address in the state. As of 2018, more than 58,000 vehicles with out-of-state addresses were registered in South Dakota. That’s due to factors including the state’s lower taxes and fees, and lack of vehicle emissions inspections. The bill’s prime sponsor in the House, Rep. Roger Chase, R-Huron, said during debates on the legislation that non-residents shouldn’t have the privilege of paying the same low fees as residents. Following is information on some other bills Noem said she signed so far this week, which is the last week of the legislative session other than a day reserved later in the month to consider any Noem vetoes. Clemency applications Senate Bill 9 changes how long inmates sentenced to life in prison have to wait between applications for clemency, such as a reduced sentence or parole. The bill says when such inmates are denied a clemency request, they have to wait four more years before applying again. Medical marijuana Senate Bill 42 will make several changes to medical cannabis laws, including adjustments to probation policies for dispensaries that run afoul of regulations. The biggest change would put the names of medical cannabis cardholders in the state’s prescription drug monitoring program. Currently, anyone prescribed a narcotic is listed in that database, used by providers to check for doctor-shopping. Forensic fees SB 15 requires a convicted defendant to pay the digital forensic examination fees associated with their case, such as the cost to unlock and search their phone or computer for evidence. Drones SB 169 revises regulations regarding drones. With some exceptions for emergency operations, landing a drone on another person’s property without permission, as well as operating a drone in an unsafe manner, will become a crime punishable by up to a year in jail. The bill also bars local governments from regulating the ownership of drones, restricting their altitude or airspace, or adjusting the qualifications for drone piloting. ‘Sliming’ House Bill 1086 establishes an enhanced penalty for probationers intentionally causing contact with bodily fluids or human waste with a Unified Judicial System employee. It’s already a felony to “slime” jailers and police with spit, urine or feces. The bill extends that penalty to employees of the court system, such as probation officers. Election rules HB 1182 revises provisions pertaining to the observation of the conduct of an election. It specifies that poll watchers for candidates, ballot question committees and political parties are allowed in the polling place during voting hours, though candidates themselves are only permitted to be there to cast their own ballot. It also requires that the polling place, both before and after ballot counting begins, be arranged in such a way that all poll watchers and observers “may plainly see and hear what is done within the polling place.” Pink hunters HB 1228 provides that required hunting safety garments, which are worn for visibility to avoid accidents, may be fluorescent pink in addition to the traditional blaze orange. ‘Obscene’ books HB 1197 requires school districts and public libraries to publish policies on restricting minors from accessing obscene materials. The bill expands an existing law addressing obscene material online to physical books. It does not enforce a specific policy for handling book concerns, but requires schools and libraries to publish policies on their website or annually in the local newspaper. EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated since its initial publication with information on more bills signed by Gov. Noem. [END] --- [1] Url: https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/03/05/noem-approves-out-of-state-vehicle-title-fee-signs-other-bills/ Published and (C) by South Dakota Searchlight Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons BY-ND 4.0. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/sdsearchlight/