Poll: Nearly half disapprove of property tax plan

A recent poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota reveals mixed public opinion on several key issues in South Dakota. Among the findings, 49% of registered voters disapprove of new legislation allowing counties to raise sales taxes in exchange for lowering property taxes, while 33% approve. The poll also indicated significant public wariness regarding data centers, with 57% of respondents approving of measures to limit and regulate their construction. This sentiment aligns with legislative actions from the past session, where Senate Bill 135, known as the "Data Center Bill of Rights," was passed and signed into law by Governor Larry Rhoden. Championed by House Speaker Jon Hansen and Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr, the law establishes guardrails to regulate data center electricity and water usage, reflecting the debate among lawmakers. Other poll results showed that 56% of South Dakotans support local law enforcement cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, and 63% approve of a new voter identification law requiring proof of citizenship for registration. Julia Hellwege, director of the Chiesman Center, noted that the high percentage of undecideds on the data center issue suggests it is not yet a "crystallized issue area" for many voters, unlike ICE cooperation. Polling expert Brad Coker observed a general nationwide aversion to data centers.