We are off to a great start in our 97th Legislative Session in South Dakota. We started the week with the Governor’s State of the State address, in which she gave a preview of the many promising things that lie ahead for South Dakota

We finished up our last week of session and some amazing things happened for South Dakota during the finalization of our budget. We were able to get teachers and State employees a 2.4% raise. We also were able to give community support providers about a 16.7% raise. This is huge for SD and even if that is all we had done I would have felt good about this.

HB 1217 was a bill to protect female sports programs. This was not a bill to hurt transgender students. Transgender students have a right to play on the same teams as their biological makeup. Women have come a long way in the last 100 years as they didn’t always have sports.

I told you all last week that we needed to see what the final product would be with Medical Marijuana. I had several major concerns with HB 1100 after hours of discussion with Senate/House colleagues and constituents.

The Republican ladies of the Senate and the Freshman Squad!

SD again passed a balanced budget!

SRD 901 was a proposal to not approve of the Merger of the DENR and Agriculture. I reached out early on this as I wanted to see what everyone’s thoughts were. I have been getting opinions on both sides of this issue.

I have not talked with one person from my district who opposes Medical Marijuana. We have people who are suffering NOW and HB 1100 needs to include something to help alleviate suffering for patients immediately.

I had the great privilege to Prime Sponsor HB 1139, which is an act to require that assisted living facilities create and post visitation policies.

This is a Bill about information, transparency, compassion, and most importantly – about a partnership between Assisted Living Facilities across SD and the families they serve.

We are getting close to finishing up our legislative season, with Crossover day February 25th. Here are some bills from this week that I head about in committee and on the Senate Floor.

Crossover day. This means that every bill must have been through one chamber by today. The House of Representatives, at this moment (almost 8 pm), is half way though their bills.

Some very emotional topics debated on the Senate floor today.We voted on a resolution to investigate into and rescind the medals of honor awarded at The Massacre of Wounded Knee.

The Legislature is working on allocating the one-time Covid Relief Funds on projects including grants for meat processors, a rail line from Pierre to Rapid City, and funds for school districts

Get a behind the scenes look at what serving in Pierre is like!

Several bills are in front of the legislature that will impact District 21 and the state. Here’s a quick run down. Please share your opinions and suggestions.

SB 177 is an act to revise the provisions of parental choice regarding homeschooling. This bill would change three parts of the current law including; the notification process for homeschooling, the assessment process (standardized testing), and participation in extra-curricular activities.

Government Class field trip to the Capitol for Gregory High School students

HB 1100 is an act to modify the medical marijuana program and to create an interim committee to recommend implementation of the medical marijuana program. An important part to note is that this bill will extend the date of implementation to 7/1/2022.