South Dakota’s citizen Legislature faces a tight schedule with only 38 days to address a high number of bills.
The initial week is typically reserved for speeches and networking with other lawmakers and lobbyists, but this year saw lawmakers immediately voting on bills in committee. The change, according to leadership from each legislative chamber, was intentionally implemented.
“What we have been looking at is how can we get more days and time in to get the work done?” said Sen. Majority Leader Casey Crabtree. “We are up here to tackle the toughest challenges, and we only have about forty days to do that.”
With a surge in filed bills and resolutions, legislators are feeling the pressure to efficiently manage their limited timeframe. House Majority Leader Will Mortenson emphasized the need for bills to be ready to go, or face defeat.
“If they’re not ready for prime time – as is the parlance around here – they are to be defeated,” Mortenson warned during a committee hearing.
The increase in the number of bills introduced is not atypical in a legislative session during an election year. Nearly 100 more bills and resolutions were introduced in 2022 than during the 2023 legislative session.
Jan. 25 is the last day for unlimited bill and resolution introductions, and Feb. 1 is the last day that committee bills and resolutions can be introduced.
(Austin Goss, South Dakota Broadcasters Association, contributed to this story.)
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