• Sioux Empire Friends of Affordable Housing

Sioux Empire Friends of Affordable Housing (SEFAH), has a 27-year history of donating to candidate campaigns that support housing. These donations open doors when it counts...

As a member, your business goes hand-in-hand with the health of the entire building industry.  Yet, you alone can't influence the South Dakota Legislature and local governments on the issues that can completely devastate your business.  Sioux Empire Friends of Affordable Housing, your local political action committee, is your front line defense.  We work to elect the best qualified, pro-housing candidates possible to strengthen our industry from top to bottom.  Some successful public policy efforts have recently included:
               

• 2009 International Residential Code – Locally amended to remove a costly provision which would have mandated residential fire sprinklers systems in single family homes.

• Infrastructure Financing – Supported the leveling of the 2^nd penny sales tax in Sioux Falls for developing long-term funding solutions to plan, maintain and construct sustainable infrastructure.

• 2009 International Building Code – Modified at the state level by adding the provision that no ordinance may require fire sprinklers be installed in a single family dwelling.

•  Spec Home Taxation Legislation – Allow owners of spec homes over one year old to be taxed at the reduced owner-occupied property tax rate, rather than a commercial rate.

• Notice of Repair – Construction professional is provided an opportunity to remedy construction defects before going through the legal system.

• Home Buyer Tax Credit – Successful in establishing the $8,000 and enhancing the tax credit for 1^st time buyers.

• Senate Healthcare Legislation (Manager’s Amendment) – Successful in removing expensive healthcare mandate that specifically singled out the construction industry.