PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA)- The debate over hyper scale data centers for Artificial Intelligence is brewing in many circles in South Dakota.

One of those circles is within Republican party legislative leadership.

Case in point – Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff opposes House Speaker Jon Hansen’s ‘Data Center Bill of Rights’.

The Cliff-Notes version of their debate was heard during their joint leadership news conference in Pierre this morning…starting with Senator Mehlhaff’s opposition.

Speaker Hanson talks about his support for his bill.

Democratic Assistant Minority Leader, Sen. Jamie Smith from Sioux Falls express his concerns about data centers.

The debate is just beginning, and will play out in the coming weeks in Pierre.