Week five saw a number of bills move through the committee and floor process. Bills that were heard in committee included House Bill 1182, the Governor’s bill that increases sales tax by half a cent with the new revenue dedicated to increasing teachers’ salaries. Many educators used one of their personal days to come to Pierre to talk to legislators encouraging passage of HB 1182 and the three companion Senate bills.
HB 1182 was heard in the House Appropriations Committee on Monday and was moved out of the committee on a (9-0) vote. The bill was then scheduled to be on the House floor Wednesday. Many educators were in the House Gallery to listen to the debate on the bill that will have a major impact on their lives. To the surprise and disappointment of those in the gallery and many others, a seldom used rule was invoked that ended debate on the bill that day and would not allow the bill to be debated for two days. Because the earliest the bill could be debated was Friday and the Legislature doesn’t meet on Friday or Monday due to President’s Day, the bill will not be heard until next Tuesday.
There may be several reasons why rule 5-17 was invoked, but many believe it was because those who oppose the tax increase didn’t have enough votes to defeat the bill. Regardless of the reason for invoking the rule, it once again shows how little respect some legislators have for our teachers. As I said above, the teachers who were in Pierre had taken a personal day from school to listen to the debate. Most teachers receive a few days of personal leave a year and, once those days are gone, if teachers wish to take a day to watch one of their children’s activities or attend a friend’s funeral, they must take a day without pay.
Hopefully, debate on HB 1182 will get back on track next week and the bill will move forward.
On another school-related issue, HB 1008, a bill that would require schools to have a separate bathroom for transgender students, passed out of the Senate Education Committee and will be coming to the Senate floor next week. Testimony on this bill talked about the potential cost to schools if the schools are sued for discrimination as a result of passing this bill. Attorneys testified that South Dakota schools that had separate bathrooms for transgender students would be in violation of federal law and subject to law suits. In the House Education Committee, the bill was amended to remove language that would have required the state to defend law suits against schools. As a result, all of the costs of defending the law suit would fall on the schools.
There was also testimony from parents of transgender children and transgender adults and children who feared that having separate bathrooms would make them targets for bullying.
I plan on opposing this bill when it comes to the floor.
I sponsored SB 108, a bill that would have required parental notification that flu shots their children receive may contain mercury and that there are vaccines available without mercury. The Health Department and the Medical Association testified against the bill on the grounds that there is a notice of mercury in the information given to those receiving flu shots. I don’t disagree that the information is in the three sheets of paper given at the time of the flu shot; however, my bill would have put the notification in the same box that you sign acknowledging that you have been given the information about the shots. The bill passed out of committee (6-1) but failed on the Senate floor 16 to 18.
As always, I am interested in hearing from you on issues before the legislature. You can contact me at svpar@hotmail.com.

Many of you have contacted me this past week in regard to the new funding mechanism for education HB 1182. While a vote was postponed from Wednesday due to a procedure called rule 5-17, it is important to understand that we had eight amendments covering 18 pages introduced just prior to taking our seats on the House floor. HB 1182 was moved to the top of the agenda, and we didn’t have time to read them, let alone understand their consequences. The amendments did a variety of things, from removing the emergency clause, to adding a teacher merit pay system, and adding money to the four technical schools for teacher pay.
While the process has been difficult and not well understood, we are trying to ensure thoughtful discussion on this very important topic to many people.
Please be patient. I appreciate those of you whom have been diplomatic and thoughtful. That has been a beacon of hope for us as legislators.
Contact me at rep.heinemann@state.sd.us, or you can call the house floor phone at 605-773-3851.

Week five of the legislative session is in the books, and there is much to mention in this week’s column.
I would like to start off by explaining what happened last week in regards to HB 1182, the half cent tax increase for education and teacher pay. This legislation passed the House Appropriations with a 11-0 vote and moved to the House floor last week Wednesday. I want to thank each and every person from District 8 that attended the session expecting to see action. Unfortunately, it was deferred to Tuesday, February 16. This was a motion made in reference to joint rule 5-17. This motion can be made one more time, and will be made this Tuesday to ensure that there will be a vote taken on Thursday, Feb. 18 for all who are able to make the trip. I encourage as many as possible to attend the session and support myself and the many other proponents to HB 1182.
Another piece of legislation that has garnished a lot of attention is HB 1007. HB 1107 would prevent the state and local governments from discriminating against individuals or entities which affirm that marriage is between a man and a woman, that sexual relations should take place in marriage, or that an individual’s biological sex is unchangeable. It would also prohibit government authorities from denying them government grants, contracts, licenses, tax benefits and access to other programs. It is important to remember every religion and individual has rights and beliefs. HB 1107 does not discriminate. If anything, it prevents discrimination for many different religions and individuals.
I have also been asked a lot of questions regarding HB 1008, an act to restrict access to certain restroom and locker rooms in public schools. This bill would limit bathrooms and locker rooms to students of the same biological gender, and ensure that there is a reasonable accommodation for those students that do not associate themselves with their biological gender. I believe this is a fair piece of legislation that keeps every person’s feelings in mind.
I want to thank those who took the time out of their morning to attend the cracker barrel in Flandreau this past weekend. I also want to remind everyone of Madison’s legislative cracker barrel on Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. in the DSU Science Center.
As always it is an honor representing the 8th District in your capitol city of Pierre. Please contact me anytime with questions or comments at Rep.Wollmann@state.sd.us Have a fantastic week!