South Dakota voters will not see a proposal this fall to cap annual assessed‑value increases on owner‑occupied homes at 2%, after the Senate State Affairs Committee voted it down Monday. The panel rejected SJR 505 on a 6–3 vote and then tabled it 5–4.
The measure—sponsored by Sen. Taffy Howard—would have asked voters to amend the state constitution to limit growth in assessed values and cap owner‑occupied property taxes at 1% of a home’s value. Its prospects collapsed when Sens. Carl Perry and Curt Voight switched from supporting it Friday to opposing it Monday. Perry said local officials in Brown County urged him to vote no.
Sen. Randy Deibert warned the plan would create a major tax shift. Committee materials he shared projected that, over 10 years, agricultural and non‑owner‑occupied properties would see their share of total property taxes rise to 79.3% from 56%, while owner‑occupied properties would drop to 20.7% from 44%.
With Monday’s votes, the proposal will not advance to the full Senate or appear on the 2026 ballot.
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