Kirk Chaffee

The move subjects the mineral to a state tax. Critics say it doesn’t belong under that designation.

While the Black Hills have historically been known to produce minerals other than gold and silver, companies are returning to map what else may exist. 

The Republican lawmaker who brought a failed lithium mining tax proposal last session is working on another piece of legislation. That comes as one company has already announced intentions to search for lithium in two areas of the Black Hills.

A Senate committee has killed a bill that would tax one of the world’s most in-demand minerals—lithium.

House lawmakers are passing a bill that adds a severance tax on the mineral lithium. About 50,000 acres of public land in the Black Hills are under a lithium mining claim.

A House panel is advancing a bill to tax lithium mining profits. The move comes as the value of lithium has skyrocketed alongside demand for electric vehicles.

South Dakota's critical infrastructure bill passed the House Commerce and Energy Committee on Wednesday, March 4. Senate Bill 151 is modeled after similar…