SD House OKs limting Brand Board terms to three

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PIERRE — The state House of Representatives adopted a three-term limit for Brand Board members Wednesday.

The terms limit, House Bill 1083, passed on a vote of 65-3. Board members would be able to serve up to three of the three-year terms.

House members also supported, by a bare margin, removing political registration as a qualification for selecting Brand Board members.

That repeal, House Bill 1084, won approval on a 37-29 vote. The legislation needed 36 ayes to pass.

The prime sponsor of both measures is Rep. Betty Olson, R-Prairie City.

She said she conferred with members of the governor’s staff,

Olson said she doesn’t see what political parties have to do with a reliable brand-inspection program.

The current law says that no more than three of the five board members can be from the same political party.

She found support from Rep. Dean Schrempp, D-Lantry, and from House Democratic leader Bernie Hunhoff of Yankton.

Rep. Frank Kloucek, D-Scotland, gave his notice of intent to reconsider the political-registration bill.

Both bills would head to the Senate next unless the political-registration bill is defeated upon reconsideration.

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