Thune, John [R-SD]
Republican · SD · 16 bills sponsored
Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025
# Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 – Summary **What This Bill Does** This bill streamlines the process for getting mortgages and loans on tribal trust lands by setting specific timelines for the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to review and approve loan documents. Currently, the process can be slow and unclear. The new law requires the BIA to notify lenders when applications arrive, complete a preliminary review within 10 days, and make a final decision within 20-30 days depending on the application type. The bill also requires the BIA to provide faster responses for title status reports and notify lenders if there are delays. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** This primarily affects Native Americans seeking mortgages on tribal trust lands, as well as lenders doing business with tribal communities. The bill improves transparency by giving federal agencies and Indian tribes access to the BIA's Trust Asset and Accounting Management System so they can track applications and information. It also requires a government study on digitizing documents to further modernize the system. Supporters view this as removing bureaucratic barriers to homeownership on tribal lands. **Current Status** The bill has passed both the Senate and House and is now law.
Lewis & Clark Regional Water System Expansion Feasibility Study Act
# Lewis & Clark Regional Water System Expansion Feasibility Study Act **What the Bill Does** This bill would authorize a feasibility study for expanding the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, a water supply project that serves parts of South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. The study would examine whether and how the system could be enlarged to deliver water to additional areas in the region that currently lack reliable water access. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily affects residents and communities in South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska who either currently use the Lewis & Clark system or could potentially benefit from an expansion. It could also impact agricultural and industrial users in these states who depend on regional water supplies. **Current Status** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it has been introduced but has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate. No further action has been taken at this time.
Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act
# Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act (S 3723) **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would authorize a feasibility study for a water supply project in western South Dakota. If passed, the federal government would conduct research to examine the potential costs, benefits, and technical requirements of developing a water infrastructure project for the region. The study would help determine whether such a project is economically viable and environmentally sound before any construction or major investment decisions are made. **Who It Affects and Key Details** The bill primarily affects residents and communities in western South Dakota, which faces water availability challenges. The study would likely examine options for delivering water to rural areas or agricultural regions that currently have limited water supplies. The bill was introduced by Senator John Thune (R-SD) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. **Current Status** S 3723 remains in committee and has not advanced to a floor vote. No significant action has been taken on the bill to date.
Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025
# Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Would Do** The Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025 is a bill currently being reviewed in the Senate that would address what sponsors describe as unfair trade practices by other countries. While specific provisions aren't detailed in the basic information available, the bill's title suggests it would create mechanisms to provide compensation or retaliation for countries that violate international trade agreements or engage in practices the U.S. government considers unfair. **Who It Affects and Current Status** This bill would potentially affect American businesses (particularly in industries facing foreign competition), U.S. consumers (through possible changes to import costs), and international trading partners. The bill is currently in committee, meaning it's in the early stages of the legislative process and hasn't yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate. As a recent introduction in the 119th Congress, it's one of many trade-related proposals under consideration. **Note:** Complete details about specific provisions aren't available from the basic bill information provided. For a full understanding of what remedies or actions this bill authorizes, you would need to review the full legislative text.
CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025
# CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill, officially titled the "CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025," proposes changes to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a federal initiative that pays farmers to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production. While specific details aren't publicly available yet, the bill's title suggests it aims to make the program more flexible and improve how it operates. The bill was introduced by Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) on January 15, 2025. **Who It Affects** This legislation would primarily impact farmers and landowners who participate in or could participate in the CRP program, as well as agricultural communities that depend on farming. It could also affect environmental conservation efforts, since the program focuses on protecting soil, water, and wildlife habitats. **Current Status** As of now, the bill remains in committee, meaning it's in the early stages of the legislative process. No further action has been taken, and the specific provisions haven't been detailed in publicly available summaries. To learn more about what changes are proposed, you would need to review the full text of the legislation once it's made available.
Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act
# Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (S 2426) **What the Bill Would Do** This bill, sponsored by Senator John Thune of South Dakota, aims to expand access to pharmacist services in underserved communities. While specific details aren't available in the summary provided, bills with this title typically seek to allow pharmacists to provide more healthcare services directly to patients—such as medication management, minor illness treatment, or health screenings—particularly in areas where other healthcare providers are scarce. **Who It Affects** The bill would primarily affect patients in rural and underserved urban communities who have limited access to doctors and other healthcare providers. Pharmacists would gain expanded authority to provide certain services, and healthcare systems would need to adjust how they deliver care in these areas. **Current Status** As of now, S 2426 remains in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate. For more detailed information about specific provisions, you can check Congress.gov or Senator Thune's official website.
Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2025
# Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill aims to support small and local meat and poultry processing businesses by providing grants, technical assistance, and increased federal funding. It would require the USDA to create a searchable database of safety studies to help smaller processors develop food safety plans. The bill also increases federal funding for state inspection programs (from 50% to 65% federal cost-sharing) and expands the Cooperative Interstate Shipment program (from 60% to 80% federal funding), which allows state-inspected facilities to sell products across state lines and internationally. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily benefits small and very small meat processing facilities—those with fewer than 500 employees or less than $2.5 million in annual sales. Local farmers, ranchers, and regional meat producers could gain better access to tools and funding to meet federal safety standards. The bill also affects states, which would receive increased federal support for their inspection programs, and potentially consumers by supporting local food production infrastructure. **Current Status** The bill (S. 1509) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator John Thune (R-SD) and is currently in committee review. It has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.
Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2025
# Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2025 – Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill aims to simplify how states tax income earned by workers who travel between states for their jobs. Currently, employees who work in multiple states may face complicated tax situations where they owe income tax to several states simultaneously. The bill would establish federal rules to reduce this burden by limiting when states can tax workers' income based on where they work versus where they live. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** The bill primarily affects mobile workers—including traveling salespersons, consultants, athletes, entertainers, and remote workers who split time between states—as well as their employers. By creating uniform federal standards, the bill would prevent workers from being taxed on the same income by multiple states, which can lead to double-taxation and complicated tax filings. The specific provisions limiting state tax authority have not been detailed in available summaries, but the general intent is to clarify and simplify interstate tax obligations. **Current Status** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator John Thune (R-SD) and is currently in committee. This means it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate, and its prospects for passage remain uncertain.
SAFETY Act of 2025
# SAFETY Act of 2025 Summary **What It Does:** The SAFETY Act would help U.S. agricultural producers sell their products abroad by protecting the right to use common food and beverage names. The bill directs the Department of Agriculture to work with U.S. trade officials to ensure that American producers can label and market goods using traditional names—like "basmati" rice, "parmesan" cheese, "bratwurst" sausage, and wine terms such as "champagne" or "chardonnay"—without facing restrictions in foreign markets. The bill includes a specific list of protected names for food products, wines, and beers. **Who It Affects:** This bill primarily affects U.S. farmers and food manufacturers who export products internationally. It also benefits American consumers by potentially improving access to a wider variety of domestically-produced goods in foreign markets. Some international producers who use similar names might be affected by U.S. trade negotiations related to this bill. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee in the Senate, meaning it has been introduced but not yet voted on or debated by the full chamber. It was sponsored by Senator John Thune (R-SD).
American Prairie Conservation Act
# American Prairie Conservation Act Summary I don't have access to the specific details of S 1209 (American Prairie Conservation Act) from the 119th Congress to provide you with an accurate summary of its provisions, who it affects, and what it would do if passed. To get reliable information about this bill, I'd recommend: - **Congress.gov** - Search for "S 1209" to see the full text, status updates, and any accompanying documents - **Senator Thune's official website** - Often includes summaries of bills he sponsors - **Nonpartisan sources** like the Congressional Research Service or Bill Track 50 This will ensure you get current, accurate details about the specific provisions rather than my potentially outdated information.
PHIT Act of 2025
# PHIT Act of 2025 Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** The PHIT Act of 2025 (S 1144) would allow individuals to use pre-tax dollars from Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to pay for certain fitness and wellness activities. Currently, these tax-advantaged accounts can only be used for medical expenses like doctor visits and prescription medications. If passed, this bill would expand what qualifies as an eligible expense to include gym memberships, fitness classes, sports equipment, and similar physical activity programs. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions:** The bill would primarily benefit people who have HSAs or FSAs through their employer health insurance plans. By allowing tax-free spending on fitness activities, supporters argue it would encourage healthier lifestyles while giving workers a tax break. Employees could redirect pre-tax income toward wellness without paying federal income taxes on those funds, potentially saving money on both fitness costs and taxes. **Current Status:** As of now, the bill is in committee (S 1144, 119th Congress), meaning it has been introduced but has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate. The bill was sponsored by Senator John Thune (R-SD).
Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2025
# Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary **What the bill does:** This legislation would make it easier for farmers and ranchers to access federal disaster aid when droughts strike their operations. Specifically, it expands which farmers qualify for certain emergency assistance programs, allows them to build permanent water infrastructure (like wells and pipelines) with federal support, and speeds up the approval process during droughts by cutting through standard environmental review requirements. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily impacts livestock producers—ranchers and farmers who raise cattle and other animals—especially those holding state or federal grazing permits. It also affects the Department of Agriculture, which administers these programs. The changes are designed to help agricultural operations recover more quickly during severe drought conditions. **Key provisions:** The bill increases payments under the Livestock Forage Disaster Program so ranchers can receive one payment after just four weeks of severe drought (instead of waiting eight weeks), with two payments available if drought conditions persist for eight weeks. It also broadens eligibility to grazing permit holders and allows permanent infrastructure improvements to qualify for emergency funding—changes intended to support long-term recovery rather than just temporary relief. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the Senate.
Accelerating Broadband Permits Act
# Summary of the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act (S 866) **What the Bill Does:** This bill aims to speed up the federal permit approval process for broadband and communications infrastructure projects. Currently, federal agencies have 270 days to review applications from companies wanting to install or upgrade communications equipment on federal land and buildings. The bill would require agencies to better track how long these reviews actually take and identify what's causing delays. Agencies would also need to alert their staff when they're falling behind schedule and take steps to fix problems as they arise. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects broadband companies and telecommunications providers seeking to build or expand their networks on federal property, as well as the federal agencies that review these requests. Indirectly, it could benefit consumers and communities waiting for faster internet access. The bill is sponsored by Senator John Thune (R-SD) and is currently being reviewed in committee, meaning it hasn't yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate. **Key Takeaway:** Essentially, this is a procedural streamlining bill designed to reduce bureaucratic delays in getting broadband infrastructure projects approved—rather than changing the actual rules about whether projects can proceed.
Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025
# Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would eliminate the federal estate tax, commonly called the "death tax." Currently, when wealthy individuals pass large amounts of money or property to heirs, the federal government can tax that inheritance above a certain threshold (currently around $13.61 million per person as of 2024). If passed, this bill would completely remove that tax, meaning estates of any size could be passed to heirs without federal estate tax liability. **Who It Affects and Key Details** This change would primarily benefit wealthy families and large estates, as most Americans don't have enough assets to owe estate taxes under current rules. The bill also raises questions about revenue—eliminating this tax would reduce federal government income. The bill is currently in committee, meaning it's in the early stages of the legislative process and hasn't been voted on by the full Senate yet. Senator John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, introduced the bill. **Current Status** As of now, the bill remains in committee and has not advanced to a full Senate vote.
Promoting Precision Agriculture Act of 2025
# Promoting Precision Agriculture Act of 2025 - Summary **What It Would Do:** This bill directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create voluntary standards and guidelines for "precision agriculture"—the practice of using detailed data and technology to optimize farming inputs like seeds, fertilizer, water, and chemicals. The goal is to help farmers reduce waste, improve efficiency, and protect the environment. The USDA would work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop industry standards that allow different agricultural technologies and equipment to work together seamlessly. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects farmers and agricultural equipment manufacturers. It could help smaller farms adopt precision agriculture technologies by making them easier to use and more compatible with each other. The standards would be voluntary, so farmers and companies aren't required to use them, but widespread adoption could lower costs and barriers to entry for new technology. **Key Provision:** The bill emphasizes private sector leadership and coordination with stakeholders—meaning farmers, equipment makers, and industry groups would help shape the standards rather than government alone deciding them. USDA would also consult with state and local governments and other relevant agencies. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.
Expediting Forest Restoration and Recovery Act of 2025
# Expediting Forest Restoration and Recovery Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill would speed up forest management projects aimed at preventing wildfires and controlling insect outbreaks on federally managed lands. It would exempt certain restoration projects from the lengthy environmental review process that typically precedes forest work. The bill also would make permanent a program allowing states to keep money earned from selling timber harvested during these restoration projects, which they could use to fund additional restoration work. **Who It Affects and Key Details** The bill primarily affects the U.S. Forest Service, states, and communities near National Forests. Projects would be exempt from environmental review if they occur in areas prone to severe wildfires or where insects and disease are being treated—but with some limitations. The exemption wouldn't apply to wilderness areas or certain roadless regions, and environmental reviews would still be required if a project raises significant environmental concerns or exceeds a certain size threshold. Supporters argue this streamlines necessary forest health work; critics may worry it reduces environmental protections. **Current Status** The bill was introduced by Senator John Thune (R-SD) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate.