The first look ahead…

This week at the South Dakota Legislature, the Appropriations Committee had a very busy week. As we continue with our agency budget hearings, Governor Noem delivered her budget presentation on Wednesday. Since then, we’ve been working out the differences, charting the changes from former Governor Daugaard’s Budget, and discussing how her priorities mesh with those within our committee and our caucus.

The Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Appropriations Committee were also invited to attend the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors Meeting. There we were witness to a first look at what to expect in the next two to three years with some of the brightest economic minds in South Dakota. Generally speaking, “cautious optimism” was the common theme, with modest growth forecast in all sectors, with the weakest growth in the agricultural economy. With Agriculture as South Dakota’s number one industry, that doesn’t paint the rosiest of pictures moving forward, but “cautiously optimistic” among a very conservative group of economists is comforting to me, and was very helpful in creating a mindset to look at our own economic forecast when we set the official revenue estimates on February 13th.

The first bill introduction deadline arrived on Friday with over a hundred bills turned in, bringing the total to over 140 Senate and 170 House Bills so far. The House of Representatives suspended their own rules to allow more bill introductions to accommodate the demand. Looks like a very busy couple of weeks for our policy committees, and our Appropriations Committee also hears bills that have changes in our fiscal policy, so we will be seeing many of those as well.

This weekend I had a chance to visit with a lot of people. The nursing home issue is incredibly emotional to many, and I hope we can check our emotions at the door, sit down and solve the problems in long term care in South Dakota. I also appreciate the kind words of support and friendly opposition questions on SB47, the Permitless Concealed Carry of Pistols bill. I voted for it, it passed the Senate 23-11 and will be considered by the House soon.

If you have any questions or concerns about any legislation out here in Pierre, please email me directly at wiikfor4@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to answer as quickly as possible. You can track bills at sdlegislature.gov and listen to committees and floor discussion live or archived at sd.net

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the South Dakota Senate.