Week 2 of the South Dakota Legislature went by awfully fast. As the work load ramped up, we started hearing bills on the Senate... The Clock Stops for No One…

Week 2 of the South Dakota Legislature went by awfully fast. As the work load ramped up, we started hearing bills on the Senate Floor and the committees are doing their work. As the process ramps up, I am amazed by it. A lot of new Legislators and new chairs, and yet the process continues to absorb the load and keep on moving.

This week, we got the word from Governor Noem that she will deliver a budget address on the 10th Legislative Day, as allowed by law. Wednesday, January 23rd at 1pm, the Governor will outline her fiscal priorities for the remainder of the 2019 Fiscal Year that ends June 30, and the 2020 Fiscal Year budget. Her ideas are not set in stone, of course, as the Legislature delivers the final budget that will be presented in the Senate in March. We worked towards that end by continuing with our budget hearings in the Joint Committee on Appropriations. This week, my highlight was the Investment Council and the South Dakota Retirement System. For Every dollar invested with them, they return an average of $12+ for the retirees, schools, and State Government of South Dakota. Some days I wish they could be in charge of more money.

Finally, I did get to deliver the Page Resolution for the first term of new pages that ended Thursday. I enjoyed getting to know the incredible young ladies I had the privilege to sponsor, and I wish them well as they go back to their normal lives. A new batch of pages will arrive for training on Monday, and we look forward to learning their stories and enjoying their enthusiasm for our process. The upcoming week will be a very busy one, with plenty of bills on the calendar and plenty of headlines that our votes will gather this week. You can track all bills, committees, and calendars at www.sdlegislature.gov, you can listen to committees and both Houses live at www.sd.net and you can reach me via email at wiikfor4@gmail.com

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the South Dakota Senate. I look forward to hearing from you.

Staff Writer

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