This bill modifies how South Dakota divides gaming tax revenues by specifying that 40% goes to tourism promotion and 10% goes to Lawrence County, while requiring $100,000 annually to fund historical preservation grants and loans. The remaining funds after these allocations and administrative expenses are distributed to municipalities on a quarterly basis. This change clarifies and potentially redirects gaming revenue away from other uses toward tourism, Lawrence County, and historical preservation.
This bill does not directly amend codified state law.
The amendment completely rewrites the gaming revenue distribution formula, replacing a phased transition plan (gradually shifting funds from the state general fund to Deadwood between 2026-2029) with a permanent fixed distribution that gives Deadwood 71% of remaining funds and the state general fund only 25%—fundamentally reversing the original bill's intent to prioritize state revenues over local historic preservation. The bill was extensively amended (hoghoused) and may no longer reflect the sponsor's original purpose.
The enrolled version removes the requirement that Deadwood receive a guaranteed $6.8 million annually before other distributions occur, and instead dramatically shifts gaming revenue away from Deadwood (from 70% to 71%) while redirecting most funds to the state general fund (from 70% to 25%) and reducing allocations to other Lawrence County municipalities and school districts. This WEAKENS Deadwood's financial position and REDIRECTS the bill's purpose from prioritizing local historic preservation funding to prioritizing state general revenues.
Signed by the Governor S.J. 548
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 520
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 553
Signed by the President S.J. 512
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 64, NAYS 5. H.J. 541
Committee on Appropriations Do Pass Passed, YEAS 9, NAYS 0.
Committee on Appropriations Scheduled for hearing H.J. 1
Commerce and Energy Referred to House Committee on Appropriations Passed, YEAS 13, NAYS 0. H.J. 19
Commerce and Energy Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Commerce and Energy H.J. 445
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 31, NAYS 2. S.J. 374
Committee on Appropriations Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 8, NAYS 0.
Committee on Appropriations Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
Committee on Appropriations Motion to amend
Committee on Appropriations Scheduled for hearing
Committee on Appropriations Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations Passed, YEAS 16, NAYS 0.
Senate Referred to Joint Committee on Appropriations S.J. 91
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations S.J. 66
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Do Pass Amended
Committee on Appropriations — Do Pass
Commerce and Energy — Referred to
Do Pass Amended
Committee on Appropriations — Do Pass Amended
Committee on Appropriations — Referred to