Together, We Protected Absentee Voting in South Dakota.

There are two weeks left in the 2025 South Dakota legislative session, and AARP South Dakota’s work is not done! This weekly recap starts by celebrating a victory and extending a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our advocates!

With your help, Senate Bill (SB) 188 was defeated on the Senate floor this week with a 14-21 vote. This bill would have dramatically altered absentee voting in the state, including changing eligibility requirements and shortening the time frame available for absentee voting.

Your response to this issue was incredible – and effective. We sent two action alerts – one prior to the committee hearing and another before the Senate floor action. In addition, we mobilized those who are subscribed to our mobile text alerts (not a member yet? Text JOINSD to 22777). These alerts resulted in 265 advocate responses – all urging lawmakers to vote NO on this bill.

If you don’t think clicking a button to send an email to a legislator can make an impact...it does! In fact, one legislator who was originally a sponsor of the bill changed to a NO vote in committee and again in the floor vote – even citing input from AARP volunteers in his remarks!

Your voice makes a difference, and we are so grateful to everyone who takes time to respond to all of AARP’s action alerts, whether we are addressing issues at the local, state or federal levels. Thank You!

House Bill 1058 - Reporting on Medical Debt
AARP South Dakota testified in favor of House Bill (HB) 1058, which would prohibit credit reporting on medical debt.

With AARP South Dakota’s support, HB 1058 passed on a 9-4 vote in the House Health and Human Services Committee. Unfortunately, however, the full House of Representatives defeated the bill by a 24-44 vote.

There is often an assumption that because Americans aged 65 and older are eligible for Medicare, they do not face the same medical debt problems as other age demographics. While Medicare mitigates some of the impacts of medical debt on older Americans, this population is not immune to the serious problem of medical debt. Medicare is very important in providing coverage to seniors, but gaps remain that can result in substantial unforeseen out-of-pocket costs.

Medical debt is unique due to its unpredictable nature, which is exacerbated by medical billing errors and the complexities of insurance coverage and reimbursement. Older Americans frequently find themselves subject to aggressive and deceptive collection strategies that take an emotional toll. Studies have found medical debt is also not a good predictor of someone’s creditworthiness, and yet it impacts their ability to access housing, employment and credit. All of this leads to medical debt negatively affecting vulnerable populations and older Americans who have difficulty recovering financially.

We appreciate those who brought this legislation forward. We hope there will continue to be work in this area to ensure that older South Dakotans can focus on recovering from illness and injury rather than worrying about threats from debt collectors or that a delinquent medical debt will negatively affect their credit score and impact their financial security.

Senate Bill 195 - Public Transit
AARP South Dakota testified in favor of Senate Bill (SB) 195, which would make an appropriation for grants to support public transit. The Senate Transportation Committee referred SB 195 to the Joint Committee on Appropriations on a 5-1 vote for further consideration. Unfortunately, the Joint Committee on Appropriations defeated the bill on a 13-4 vote.

Despite the setback, AARP South Dakota expects this issue to be brought forward again in the 2026 legislative session.

AARP South Dakota has a long history of advocating for public transit in the state, and here are some of the reasons why:

• Increased Independence - Public transit enables older adults to maintain mobility and independence, allowing them to travel without relying on family members, friends or caregivers.
• Reduced Isolation - Accessible transit options can help older adults stay connected to their communities, reducing social isolation by making it easier to visit friends and family or participate in social events.
• Improved Access to Essential Services - Public transportation provides older adults with reliable access to healthcare appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies and other vital services, reducing the impact of mobility challenges.
• Cost-Effective - For many seniors, public transit offers a more affordable transportation option compared to owning and maintaining a private vehicle with the cost of fuel, insurance and parking fees.
• Convenient for Non-Drivers: For older adults who can no longer drive due to health reasons or physical limitations, public transit ensures they still have the means to get around, avoiding the stress of relying on others for transportation.

Improving transit supports aging in place. By improving accessibility and mobility, public transit helps older adults remain in their homes and communities longer, reducing the need for more expensive or institutional care options.

Legislative Cracker Barrels: Your Chance to Visit with Lawmakers at Home
Check this listing of upcoming legislative cracker barrel events to see if there is a session happening in your community.

Taking a look ahead at the legislative calendar, the final day of the main run of session is March 13, and then legislators take a two-week break before returning to Pierre for “veto day” on March 31.