A bevy of lawmakers past and current have made a run at like reforms over the years
PIERRE, S.D. — The latest attempt to steer control of a crucial commission away from the governor’s office is on its way to the State Senate for further consideration.
The South Dakota State House gave a strong endorsement to House Bill 1266, which would move the state’s Brand Board out from under the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) and under the South Dakota Office of School and Public Lands (S&PL).
A bevy of lawmakers past and current have made a run at like reforms over the years, responsive to concerns from South Dakota ranchers that the board — responsible for registering and regulating livestock brands, and ensuring new brands do not conflict with existing registered brands in the state — has not been actively fulfilling its obligations.
During the measure’s first committee hearing in the House’s Agriculture and Natural Resources committee, ranchers from across the state holding brands approved by the Brand Board laid into it about delays in service, cattle rustling complaints going unanswered and unsolved, and the pace at which members had been appointed to the four-member board.
“Producers are growing increasingly frustrated with the Brand Board under DANR,” said freshman Rep. Jana Hunt, the bill’s prime sponsor. “Fees have been increasing, and stock barns and producers want to know why.”
Hunt pointed out too, that the office hasn’t been audited since 2008. Moving it under S&PL Commissioner Brock Greenfield could open the door to that.
“Producers deserve to know how their money is being spent,” Hunt continued.
Opposition to the measure focused on the new governor’s commitment to finding solutions. A policy advisor with the governor’s office assured committee members during HB 1266’s committee hearing that Gov. Larry Rhoden, a brand holder himself, was focused on patching up problems. The legislation could create bureaucratic hang-ups too, noted the governor’s office, if the governor were to maintain appointment authority while another statewide elected office handled operations.
“Give the governor, a rancher, time to sort this out,” said Rep. Tim Goodwin. “He’s only been on the job two weeks. He can figure this out. He’s a West River guy.”
But patience, particularly amongst policymakers representing largely agricultural communities, has run thin. Rep. Liz May of Kyle — a longtime proponent of sweeping changes to the Brand Board — pointed out that Rhoden has been a member of the executive branch since 2019, and the problems faced by ranchers have only continued to get worse.
“Right now, voices are not being heard,” said May, noting that instances of cattle theft have continued to rise. “He has been in this fight as long as I have, and he has had opportunities to do something different and he has not… We are trying to look for the largest part of our agricultural industry, the number one industry in the state.”
The House’s Native American lawmakers too said that inefficiencies had particularly harmed their constituents.
“Producers, time and time again, have come to the Legislature wanting change, and it hasn’t happened,” said Democrat Eric Emery. “I think the time has come that it is beyond the governor’s control, we need to listen to our cattle producers and advocate for their needs.”
Lawmakers voted 47-22 to advance the bill to the State Senate. That gives them just enough to uphold the measure, should Rhoden have the opportunity to veto it.
Reform to the DANR based commission has long been a goal of various lawmakers. Just last year, a measure failed in the Senate that would have required Brand Board members to be elected by brand holders, instead of appointed by the governor.
