The South Dakota House State Affairs got an early start today (Wed.), convening at 6:30am with eight bills awaiting first hearing, one scheduled for second hearing and potential action on HB1249, a bill seeking to repeal the state lottery.
Bills are dying fast enough as to be hard to track. A bill brought by Rep. Tony Randolph of Rapid City, which included language referencing ‘drag queens,’ was pulled late yesterday. The bill was pending a committee assignment by Speaker Steve Haugaard, which had not come as of Monday morning. When asked why he pulled it, Randolph would only say this wasn’t the year for his bill.
HB1177 was ‘smoked out’ of the House yesterday. Brookings Rep. Doug Post’s bill would require school board elections occur in conjunction with the general election. It died in committee Monday on a 9-5 vote, but got called back from the committee by the full floor of the House.
Just as fast as the House killed bills yesterday, members called for ‘reconsideration.’ Reconsideration of a bill already voted down usually doesn’t work, but it always takes time on the following day’s agenda.
