• PIERRE, S.D. - The first bill of the 2013 South Dakota Legislature, signed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard today, was HB1066, which continues the current tax rate on tourism-related businesses during the June-September period.
•  The tax on the gross receipts of most tourism-related goods and services was 1 percent until it was raised to 1.5 percent for two years in 2009. A two-year extension was granted by the Legislature in 2011 and was due to expire this coming June 30.
•  HB1066, which passed the state House 64-4 and the Senate by 33-2, makes the 1.5 percent rate permanent.  The measure had wide support from the state's visitor industry.
•  Money raised by the tax is used to promote tourism, and the lion's share of it is paid by out-of-state visitors, Gov. Daugaard said.
•  "I'm heartened by the South Dakota visitor industry's acceptance of this revenue source, which paves the way for increased tourism spending and boosts the entire state economy," the Governor said.
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