House kills measure to kneecap One Stop centers

Democrats swing accountability measure in favor of executive branch

The One Stop in Sioux Falls. (Joe Sneve/The Dakota Scout)

PIERRE — The South Dakota State House of Representatives narrowly killed a measure that would have allowed them to determine the future of two 30-year, multi-million dollar leases.

By a vote of 31-37, the chamber defeated Rep. Julie Auch’s House Bill 1205, which would have given the Legislature ultimate authority over any state leases either over 15-years or if they cost more than five million dollars.

Auch brought the measure in response to two leases signed by the state of South Dakota’s Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA) signing two 30-year leases to construct “One Stop” shops in both Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Pennington County-based Dream Designs International —operated by Hani Shafai — was the landlord for both of those projects. The two contracts will earn the company about $200 million over the next three decades.

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