South Dakota Farmers Union Presses for Red-Diesel Law Changes After Governor's Directive
South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke on October 8 wrote to Gov. Larry Rhoden and state lawmakers urging changes to state law on dyed diesel fuel, following the governor's move to align with a Trump administration order, SDPB reported.
On October 7, Rhoden directed state agencies to follow President Trump's October 6 executive order allowing civilian use of red-dyed diesel, which is exempt from the 24.4-cent federal fuel tax and South Dakota's 28-cent state tax. Under current state law (SDCL 10-47B-185), using red diesel on highways is a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by a $250 fine.
Sombke's letter argues the state needs legislation to clarify that the practice is legal, warning that "simply telling law enforcement not to enforce a law that is not on the books is illegal." He proposed temporarily cutting the state tax on gasoline and clear diesel to one cent per gallon, adding a one-cent tax on red diesel, and called for a special legislative session.
The Farmers Union says the move could significantly lower fuel costs for farmers and rural drivers, while state officials weigh how to implement the federal directive within existing statutes.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 南达科他州议会大厦（皮尔），图片来源：Wikimedia Commons（CC BY-SA 4.0）
