West River Eagle

The 92nd Legislative Session has officially kicked off!




The 92nd Legislative Session has officially kicked off! This week was full of events with the Governor Daugaard’s State of the State, the State of the Judiciary given by Chief Justice Gilbertson, and the State of the Tribes given by the Yankton Sioux Tribal chairman Robert Flying Hawk. Along with that, I am assigned to the Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee as well as the Transportation Committee that began this week. I’ve also been assigned an intern from my home district and a senior at South Dakota State University, Garrett Keegan.


Some examples of Legislation that the Party looks to introduce includes defending the minimum wage increase the voters have voted for twice. We’re going to expand Pre-K education, which cuts down on childcare expenses. We want statewide broadband internet access as well as paid sick leave and parental leave.


The State of the Judiciary also addressed the problems of meth addiction as well as alcohol addiction. Chief Justice Gilbertson added in the use of drug and DUI courts which have become more successful and popular. He commented that it was a step in the positive direction fighting addiction.


The State of the Tribes addressed coming together with the state of South Dakota and working toward a resolution of our common problems. Much like the Governor as well as the Chief Justice discussed, Chairman Flying Hawk focused on the meth epidemic that has hit the reservations especially hard. He also talked about the reservation always being welcome to new business ventures and wanting to strengthen the tribal economy. 


In the Ag and Natural Resource Committee, we heard from the River Basin Taskforce as well as the secretary for Game, Fish, and Parks. The GFP focused on making a large part of Spearfish Canyon a state park, which will be up for debate this session. In the Transportation Committee, we heard from the Department of Public Safety. Some questions that arose were getting weigh stations on Reservations so trucks stop bypassing state highways when they’re overweight as well as the length of trailers that are allowed in South Dakota.


Senate Bills 57 and 58 will be coming up later in session. Senate bill 57 will authorize operation facility that will participate in the Medicaid program in Eagle Butte as well as declare an emergency. Senate bill 58 will be amended to say that any municipality with a population over 2,500 people is responsible for snow and ice removal. If a municipality has a population of 2,500 or less, the Department of Transportation will be responsible for snow and ice removal along any state trunk highway which includes a street within a municipality, the Department of Transportation shall maintain the opening to that street.



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