One thing Republicans and Democrats in the South Dakota Legislature agree on this session is social issues are getting a lot of attention.
In her State of the State Address last month, Gov. Kristi Noem declared “South Dakota is OPEN for business.” But, House minority leader Jamie Smith from Sioux Falls says some of the bills covering social issues aren’t seen as “welcoming.”
State law mandates that every bill submitted gets a hearing, but Smith says there are much bigger issues legislators should be working on.
Senate minority leader Troy Heinert is from Mission, SD, which is on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. He says once discrimination begins, it takes many decades to rectify.
Heinert says in past legislatures, some of the bills would’ve been handled differently.
Republicans hold every state-wide office and a super-majority in the state Legislature.
