Bioprocessing facility bill approved in House

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – A bill that would help start up a bioprocessing facility was approved in the South Dakota House Tuesday.

Bill sponsor, Representative Dave Anderson of Hudson says it’s just the first step.

The facility would be a joint project of South Dakota State University and the School of Mines in Rapid City.

House minority leader Jamie Smith of Sioux Falls says it is an exciting proposal.

Representative Tom Pischke of Dell Rapids was concerned about the ongoing costs.

The bill was amended to include only one dollar in start up funds instead of the one million dollars that had been in the original bill.

The bill passed out of the House on a vote of 56-12 and now goes to the Senate.