The House Appropriations committee killed a bill that funds South Dakota’s fight against Pine Beetles. Lawmakers say the bill is duplicate legislation of a separate bill already passed. Larry Mann is a lobbyist with the Black Hills Forest Resource Association. He says SB 28 is also a funding request to fight the Black Hills Pine Beetles.
"I just wanted to reiterate to this committee my appreciation for your action earlier this week to amend Senate Bill 28. That now is the primary vehicle for mountain pine beetles and so Mr. Chairman, I respectfully request you table bill 135," Mann says.
Mann says all the attention for the pine beetle issue can now be focused to just one bill, rather than two. The House Appropriations committee agreed with the table request by defeating Senate Bill 135 unanimously.
