2018 Legislative Session

The 2018 legislative session kicked off in Pierre on January 9th. During the session, which runs until March 26th with the gubernatorial passage or vetoes, the Republican-dominant Legislature will discuss policy proposals on a range of issues, including some resurfacing issues brought up during the 2017 session. Here are some of the major topics that will be central to this year’s session. For additional insight, watch SDPB’s Legislative preview here.

During his State of the State address, Governor Daugaard, who’s in his final session as South Dakota’s chief executive, addressed several issues that will most likely be this session’s hot topics. These include the state budget, teacher pay, the use of non-meandered water for recreational use, and healthcare–specifically, a proposal to require some recipients of Medicaid to work to obtain the health coverage. Watch his address here.

Additionally, revisions to the initiated measure process will be a major topic of discussion after the repeal of IM22 in 2017, which touched on campaign finance, lobbying laws, and government ethics. Following its repeal, a summer task force was put together to come up with proposals to better define the rules around the initiated measure process.

LEAD: What We’re Watching For
In addition to some of these hot topics, we will be keeping our eye on any bill that affects women, families, and minorities.

Here is a list of bills that we think may be of interest to LEAD members. This is not a comprehensive list and we may not have caught everything, especially since the session moves quickly. If we have missed an important bill, let us know and we will make an effort to include it going forward.

Education

HB 1073 – about free speech on college campuses (Referred to House Judiciary Committee)
SB 103 – prohibits illegal “aliens” from receiving post-secondary education (Referred to Senate Education Committee)
SB 83 – allow “certain patriotic societies” to come speak to public school students (Awaiting Hearing in Senate Education Committee)
HB 1199 – prohibit collective bargaining by employees of the Board of Regents (Referred to House State Affairs Committee)
HB 1198 – prohibit school districts from compensating official labor union representatives or negotiators (Referred to House Education Committee)

Carry (guns)

HB 1083 – reduce fees for concealed carry (Scheduled for hearing on 1/31 in House State Affairs Committee)
SB 104 – repeal the permit required for concealed carry (Scheduled for hearing on 1/30 in Senate Judiciary Committee)

Health

SB 105 – allow doctors to give an infant a toxicology test without parental consent (Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee on 1/24, awaiting floor consideration)
SB 110 – establish certain findings pertaining to pre-abortion counseling practices by abortion providers in South Dakota and to amend provisions regarding mandatory third-party pre-abortion counseling (Referred to Senate State Affairs Committee)

Initiated/Referred Measure Related Bills

HB 1004 – revise certain provisions regarding petition forms for initiated measures and initiated amendments to the Constitution (Passed House on 1/16 and referred to Senate State Affairs Committee)

HB 1005 – revise certain requirements for a recitation regarding the effect of a vote on certain ballot measures (Passed House on 1/24, Referred to Senate State Affairs Committee)
HB 1006 – revise the extent of comments required by the director of the Legislative Research Council regarding certain ballot measures and the period of time in which those comments are to be made (Passed House 1/16, passed Senate 1/25, awaiting Governor’s signature)
HB 1007 – create a citizen initiative review commission to review initiated measures and initiated amendments to the Constitution and to prescribe the commission’s powers and duties (Deferred to the 41st legislative day, so effectively dead)

SB 9 – require fiscal notes for certain initiated measures and initiated amendments to the Constitution (Passed Senate on 1/18, referred to House State Affairs Committee)
SB 10 – provide for the resolution of conflicts by multiple initiated measures and amendments to the Constitution adopted at the same election (Passed Senate on 1/19, referred to House State Affairs Committee)
SB 11 – revise certain provisions regarding the time period during which petition sponsors may submit ballot measures to the Legislative Research Council for review and comment (Passed Senate on 1/19, referred to House State Affairs Committee)
SB 12 – require petition circulators for certain ballot measures to make available the full text of the ballot measure to petition signers (Failed in Senate on 1/22)
SB 13 – revise certain provisions regarding the director of the Legislative Research Council issuing fiscal notes for certain ballot measures  (Passed Senate on 1/19, referred to House State Affairs Committee)

How to Follow Session

We will do our best throughout the legislative session to keep our members up to date and informed on what’s happening in Pierre. Here are some ways to follow along with us:

LEAD’s legislative team is keeping a close eye on the session as it unfolds, and we will keep members informed in several ways. First, sign up for the LEAD newsletter. Second, attend the LEAD Post-Legislative Coffee Debriefings (following the Chamber events at the Holiday Inn City Centre) at the History Club downtown (more information on the debriefing to come).

Follow the stories and videos provided on SDPB’s website, some of which are provided above. Here they are again:
Legislative Preview 2018 Session
Governor’s 2018 State of the State Address

Follow the session schedule and read up on bills on the SD Legislature website:
Schedule
2018 Bills

Contact us! Send your questions and comments our way. We want to keep in touch with our members and keep them as informed as possible. Shoot us an email or contact us through social media.

Thanks to the LEAD Legislative Team for all their hard work.
Roxanne Hammond
Susan Kroger
Laura Engebretson
Traci Willis
Bobbi Greenfield
Erik Hanson
Erin Healy
June Copperfield

ABOUT LEAD SOUTH DAKOTA

LEAD South Dakota is a registered 501c(4) nonprofit.  LEAD (Leaders Engaged And Determined) is a grassroots organization aimed at bringing awareness to issues facing South Dakota, the United States, and abroad. LEAD exists to foster a community of individuals who empower and encourage women to be actively involved in all stages of the political process in order to effect positive change for women and families in South Dakota.

LEAD is not affiliated with any political party or organization. We are welcoming and inclusive of all people, regardless of race, age, religion, ethnicity, national origin, color, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, or citizenship.