Voters in South Dakota overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment implementing top-two primary elections with 66% voting against the measure.

If passed, the amendment would have replaced partisan primaries with top-two primaries for state executive, state legislative, congressional, and county offices wherein all candidates run against each other in their respective races, including major and minor party and unaffiliated candidates.

The 99th session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on March 26.

Lawmakers convened for Veto Day but adjourned after only a few minutes because for the first time in nearly 70 years, there were no gubernatorial vetoes to consider.

Gov. Kristi Noem signed a total of 233 bills into law this legislative session while not vetoing a single one.

A bill to prohibit the use of a deepfake in a campaign ad if it does not include a disclosure passed the Senate but died in the House.

The 98th session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on March 27.

During the session, lawmakers passed House Bill 1060 increasing the threshold for requiring a purchasing agency to advertise for bids or proposals for a contract for the purchase of supplies or services, other than professional services, from $25,000 to $50,000 and any public improvement contract from $50,000 to $100,000.

A lobbying bill prohibiting the spouse of a member of the legislature from being employed as a lobbyist and a campaign finance bill to increase contribution limits did not pass.

Sen. Michael Rohl introduced Senate Bill 197 to prohibit spouses of current members of the Senate or House of Representatives from being employed as a registered private lobbyist.

He stated that the bill addresses two problems

• Preventing legislative spouses from having an advantage that other lobbyists and everyday people do not.
• Providing clarity about their role because legislative spouses tend to have more access to restricted areas and lawmakers.

The bill passed out of committee Monday and will next be discussed and voted on by the Senate.

South Dakota Secretary of State Steve Barnett published the 2023 annual limit for lobbyist gifts to public officials.

The annual cumulative value is adjusted each year based on the change in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers in the preceding year.

The change for 2021 was a 7% increase from the current limit of $107.92, making the newly adjusted cumulative gift limit $115.47.

No public official and no member of the immediate family of a public official may accept from any lobbyist or principal any gifts with a cumulative value greater than $115.47 during the 2023 calendar year.

The 97th session of the South Dakota Legislature adjourned sine die on March 28 after lawmakers failed to override Gov. Kristi Noem’s three vetoes, killing legislation that would have given lawmakers more control over spending federal aid.

During the session, the Legislature passed House Bill 1076, permitting the voters of any second or third-class municipality, which includes Pierre and Sioux Falls, to choose to elect aldermen to the common council at large by presenting a petition for an election signed by 15% of the registered voters of the municipality.

An election submitting the question to the voters must be held within fifty days of the filing of the petition.

House Bill 1076 is effective June 26, 2022.

The full House, which Republicans control 62-8, will convene on April 12 to decide if it will accept the House Select Committee on Investigation’s report recommending against impeaching Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Three days after it convened on November 8, the first special session of the South Dakota Legislature adjourned sine die on November 10 when lawmakers reached a compromise on the decennial redistricting map.

A concurrent second special session began on November 9 and lasted only one day.

During the second special session, lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to establish a committee to consider impeachment of Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg for conduct in relation to a crash that killed Joe Boever last year.

The South Dakota Legislature will convene a special session beginning November 9 to debate the impeachment of Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.

Ravnsborg was charged with two misdemeanors and received no jail time for hitting and killing Joe Boever in September of 2020.

Under the South Dakota Constitution, the Legislature may be convened in special session by the presiding officers of both houses upon the written request of two-thirds of the members of each house.

The Senate voted to proceed last week, and the House has more than the necessary 47 signatures to proceed.

The proclamation sets the special session to immediately follow a special session for redistricting on November 8.

Gov. Kristi Noem has repeatedly called for Ravnsborg’s resignation, but he refused to resign.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

The 96^th session of the South Dakota Legislature adjourned sine die on March 29.

During the session, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 112, permitting the governor to fill vacancies in several state offices by appointment with the advice and consent of the Senate.

If the Legislature is in recess, the governor is authorized to make a temporary appointment until the next session.

Also, House Joint Resolution 5003 submits a constitutional amendment to voters at the next primary election to require a three-fifths vote of the Legislature for any initiated constitutional amendment or measure that increases taxes or obligates the state to appropriate funds of $10 million or more in any of the first five fiscal years after enactment.

If passed, the constitutional amendment would be effective upon voter approval.

South Dakota Secretary of State Steve Barnett published the 2021 annual limit for lobbyist gifts to public officials.

Each year, the annual cumulative value is adjusted.

It is based on the change in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the year before the immediately preceding year.

The change for 2019 was 2.3%, making the newly adjusted cumulative gift limit $106.43 for 2021.

Public officials and members of their immediate families may not accept gifts with a cumulative value greater than $106.43 from any lobbyist or principal during the 2021 calendar year.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announced she is calling a special legislative session on Monday, October 5, 2020.

The main purpose of this session is to consider legislation related to the use of federal stimulus relief funds, including the $1.25 billion allocated to South Dakota in Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF).

Unless an extension is granted, South Dakota has until December 30, 2020 to spend all CRF dollars.

The administration has spent about $114 million of the $1.25 billion in federal funds allocated to the state.

Noem has mapped out a plan to spend the bulk of the money, including up to $400 million in small business grants.

However, some House members said lawmakers should be included in the decision.

The Legislature adjourned on March 30 after holding its first electronic voting day for the last scheduled day of the 2020 session.

The electronic voting day considered bills vetoed by Gov. Kristi Noem and several new bills related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Legislature passed 9 of the 11 bills Noem requested to aid the state in battling the COVID-19 virus.

An approved bill includes the one that postponed elections.

House Bill 1298 postpones any election scheduled to be held from April 14 through May 26.

The bill requires the governing body of the political subdivision holding the election to choose any Tuesday in June as the alternate election date.

It also requires the absentee voting period to extend through 5:00 p.m. local time the day before the new election date.

A special session is tentatively planned for June to address lingering budget concerns caused by the pandemic.

Due to growing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, state lawmakers will consider a bill to postpone upcoming municipal elections at least until June.

Additionally, lawmakers will consider allowing Gov. Kristi Noem to delay the presidential primary from June 2 to July 28.

The elections bill is one of at least nine last-minute bills related to COVID-19 to be considered on the last working day of the 2020 legislative session.

Lawmakers are expected to discuss and vote on bills remotely without gathering in Pierre.

State Senator Justin Cronin resigned from his District 23 seat on Wednesday.

Gov. Kristi Noem has appointed Rep. John Lake to fill the state Senate vacancy and is seeking public input on filling the resulting state House vacancy.

Those seeking consideration must submit their information by September 10.