”We need to move forward with positive changes that will enrich the lives of South Dakotans.”

Taylor’s Outlook

We need healthy, educated, and thriving South Dakotans.

Helping others has been the concentration of my entire career and I have been proud to move that passion into serving as your Representative. I am a mom. I am a nurse. I am an educator. My passion is helping people.

• Healthy South Dakotans:

Health influences every aspect of our lives. Policy should support access to quality healthcare in both urban and rural communities. Rural healthcare is specifically a challenge. We need to be creative and ensure rural communities have access to preventative care, mental health services, and long-term care. As your legislator, I have been a leader in shaping policy that supports health.

I have delivered on my promise to address healthcare issues.

2023-2024 Sessions

• I served as the Vice-Chair for the Health and Human Services Committee.

• I served as the Vice-Chair for the Interim Study on Sustainable Models for long term care and advocated for workforce development and supporting our elderly.

• I was the prime/cosponsor for healthcare licensure compacts for psychologists, mental health counselors, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, and social workers HB1012, HB1013, HB1015, HB1017 to increase access to care and support the healthcare professionals that serve our communities. The compacts allow these professionals to get one license and the license is recognized in other compact states.

• I was the prime house sponsor of SB147 to establish informational materials for palliative care to help patients and families make informed decisions. 

• I was the prime sponsor of HB1224 to ensure providers have the information they need to take care of pregnant women. 

• I was the prime sponsor of HB1078 to provide funding for the expansion of adult day services for families with loved ones suffering from alzheimers or dementia. Adult day services provide relief for family members and allows them to bring their family members to a safe location. 

• I was the prime sponsor of HB1079 to provide funding for suicide prevention efforts specifically in our SD youth. The bill also provided funds for data compilation and the support of existing programs that use peer support to prevent death by suicide. 

• I was the prime sponsor of HB1155 which added dental facilities as eligible facilities to participate in the rural health recruitment assistance program. 

• I was the prime sponsor of HB1041 which removed fentanyl test strips from our drug paraphernalia statute. The change allows the use of fentanyl test strips for those individuals struggling with addiction.

• I sponsored a bill to expand postpartum medicaid coverage to the entire year following birth.

2021-2022 Sessions

• I served on the Interim Study on Medical Marijuana and respected voters and the intent of IM26 (medical marijuana access), advocated for patient access, and supported responsible adjustments of the statute.

• I was the prime sponsor of SB4, SB9, SB13, SB 14, SB21, SB23, and SB27 as recommendations for the Interim Study for Medical Marijuana.

• I advocated for healthcare access and cost-effectiveness as the prime sponsor of HB1121 which enables our emergency services personnel to be utilized within our hospitals and outside the limitation of only prehospital and emergency rooms. This bill was brought forward as a solution to better utilize our emergency services personnel. The passage of this bill allows emergency services personnel to address some of our healthcare shortage issues.

• Prime sponsor of HB1122 which revises provisions related to criminal background checks for emergency services personnel. The change requires background checks for all advanced life support personnel applications for licensure. This bill puts us in compliance with the nationwide compact for emergency services personnel. The compact allows emergency services personnel to cross state lines and have licensure portability. This bill should improve access to healthcare.

• Prime sponsor of HB1123 which establishes a licensure category for rural hospitals and provides a definition for rural hospitals with ONLY emergency room services. The designation impacts federal reimbursement levels and is necessary to help our rural hospitals remain open. 

• Prime House sponsor for SB93 which enables Emergency Medical Technicians to be cost-effective as well as equipped with the tools they need during an emergency. The bill adds the utilization of supraglottic airway devices (emergency airway device) and single dose epinephrine injections (life saving emergency drugs). The cost savings for epinephrine is around $600.

• Chaired the Medical/Cards group of the Interim Study for Medical Marijuana and offered my expertise as a healthcare provider. 

• Cosponsored bills related to licensing reform and the reduction of barriers to healthcare access to enhance the healthcare workforce. 

• Recipient of the American College for Obstetricians and Gynecologists “advocate of the year award” for my work advocating for women’s health and children.

• Served on the Mental Health of First Responders Task Force and the Mental Health Services Delivery Task Force

• Fought for funding for The Link triage center in Sioux Falls. The Link is a public private partnership designed to link people with mental health and substance use disorders with appropriate services and resources.

Steady advocate for Appropriate Regional Facilities that address community mental health needs and keep people close to their homes.

• Educated South Dakotans:

Education is the key to successful communities. Our education system, from preschool to K-12 to technical to university, creates our workforce. We rely on educators to lead our children into the future. Policy should support our teachers and show them how much they are appreciated. Education is an investment into the future successes of our great state.

I have delivered on my promise to support teachers and education.

2023-2024 Sessions

• I was the prime house sponsor of a bill that expanded eligibility for the reduced tuition benefit to school counselors. School counselors can now get reduced tuition to meet their continuing education requirements at our state schools. 

• I sponsored a bill to support efforts to create accountability for teacher pay. Teachers deserve to receive fair pay increases.

• I supported efforts to require the ACT be utilized in our public schools as their grade 11 testing. The use of the ACT as the standardized test helps provide students with a better preparation for college admittance. 

• I sponsored a bill to allow 10th grade students to participate in the dual-credit program.

• I sponsored a bill to increase the amount of funding available for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarships.

2021-2022 Sessions

• Cosponsored three bills, HB1119, HB1210, and SB13 that support public education funding and economic development.

• Fought for the 6% increase in teacher pay (2022).

• Staunch supporter of the creation of the “Freedom Scholarship” program. The scholarship supplied $5.1 million to students in need of financial assistance for college in its first year.

• Cosponsored legislation that enables foster kids to have more educational choices and opportunities.

• Family Support and Empowerment:

We have a variety of issues facing South Dakota families. My goal as a legislator is to empower families and support their needs. When families are in need, we need reliable help. I have championed innovation and partnerships within our communities to support family wellness.

I have delivered on my promise to empower South Dakota families and help children.

• 2023-2024 Sessions

  • I have worked tirelessly to address the increased cost of childcare. We were successful in educating as well as evaluating the state determination of the cost of childcare. There are several pilot programs that include cost share partnerships between cities, businesses, and the parents.

  • I have sponsored bills to protect minors from exposure to obscene content online, increase penalties for the possession and/or distribution of child pornography, and increase the punishment for individuals committing crimes against children.

  • I was the prime sponsor of a bill (SB168) to provide funding to help families and children that are victims of domestic violence or abuse.

  • I was a sponsor of the bill to establish the Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council. The Council will be able to monitor progress in addressing the well-being of Native American children. 

  2021-2022 Sessions

  • I was the prime sponsor of SB155 which is a one time legislative appropriation of $5,000,000 to assist victims of domestic violence, abuse, and neglect. The money can be used for domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, and childhood abuse programs. Unfortunately, our SD cases have increased and therefore utilization has increased. I was very passionate about this bill. The appropriations of these funds help the most vulnerable men, women, and children living in our state.

  • Prime House sponsor for SB102 to protect voter information for certain voters. This bill allows victims of domestic abuse to keep their contact information private.

  • Prime House sponsor for SB186 to provide supplemental funding for The Link. The Link provides crisis stabilization for individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues. 

  • Cosponsored several bills related to the prevention of child abuse, mandatory reporters, and investment into our juveniles. 

  • Serve on Interim Study on Juvenile Justice and Chair the Mental Health subcommittee. 

  • I have been invested in addressing childcare shortages and early childhood development issues that impact our communities.

  • I serve on the Center for Prevention of Child Maltreatment advisory board to work towards eliminating child abuse. 

• Growth:

I want our bright South Dakota citizens to stay in South Dakota. We can keep our kids in South Dakota by making sure our communities are great places to live, work, and play. Our laws should support growth and opportunity.

I have delivered on my promise to work on issues that strengthen our state.

• 2023-2024 Sessions

  • I supported the sales tax cut. The tax cut was the largest tax cut in our state’s history!

  • I sponsored a bill to increase the property tax exemption amount for our disabled Veterans. 

  • I supported the responsible allocation of funds to support the construction of new prison facilities. The new facilities will help keep our communities and prison staff safe. Additionally, there will be space to support services to prevent recidivism. 

  • I have supported bills to increase our communities' access to water.

  2021-2022 Sessions

  • Supported the Dakota State University cybersecurity research lab. The lab is anticipated to bring 400 six figure jobs and $100 million in economic activity. 

  • Led initiatives to support our great outdoors for hunting, fishing, and recreation. I was the Prime House sponsor for SB170 to assist with forest resiliency projects. I was also a cosponsor for Senate Concurrent Resolution 102 to encourage the executive branch to examine mitigation efforts to curtail the spread of aquatic invasive species.

  • Advocated for the housing infrastructure bills to enable both rural and urban communities to have the tools they need to create more housing opportunities. 

  • Promoted infrastructure appropriations for bridges, roads, and dams throughout the state.

  • Serve on the South Dakota Opioid Abuse Advisory Board to fight the opioid epidemic and study ways to address addiction/substance abuse.

  I am serving because of my family, friends, and colleagues. I learned the value of hard work from my first job at the Fireside Inn in the Black Hills.  Moving forward and making improvements is a core part of who I am. My values include loyalty, integrity, honesty, and acceptance of others. Those values are a result of relationships with my family and friends.