2022 Legislative Session Wrap-up

Session convened on January 11th and adjourned on March 10th. Recess is from March 11th – March 27th

March 28th is reserved for consideration of gubernatorial vetoes. The Legislature through a 2/3 vote can override any of Governor Noem’s vetoes. 

The 97th session covered a wide variety of bills such as Covid, campgrounds, shooting facility, mental health, marijuana, tax relief, Critical Race Theory, appropriation of Federal dollars, sports protection, pro-life advancements, and broadband infrastructure. 

During this session over 40 marijuana bills were heard. Most were defeated and all the recreational marijuana bills failed. 

Follow the link below to see the bills Governor Noem has signed: 

2022 South Dakota Bills (sdlegislature.gov) Bills signed by Governor 2022 

Conference Committees

When a bill or resolution has passed its house of origin, it is presented to the other house for its consideration. If the other house should amend the bill or resolution as passed by the house of origin, it is returned to the house of origin for approval of the changes. If the house of origin does not agree to the changes, one house or the other can request that a conference committee be established to work out an agreement. Upon the request of one house, the other house must appoint three members from its body to meet with three members of the requesting house. For a bill to become law, identical versions of the bill must pass both the Senate and House of Representatives for consideration by the Governor. 

Follow the link to see status of Conference Committee Bills: 

2022 South Dakota Conference Committees (sdlegislature.gov) 

Follow the link for National Trending SD Bills: Trending South Dakota Legislation | LegiScan  

Regardless of whether you were pleased or not pleased with the legislative results, I hope Republicans can be unified going forward to create a better future for South Dakotans (where under God the people rule). 

February 23rd is Crossover Day – Over 500 legislative proposals must be acted on by this date in the chamber of origin or it is considered dead

March 10th is Last Legislative Day

March 28th is Veto Day

Note: House Bills referred to Senate have passed the House

Impeachment hearing for Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg is on-going waiting for recommendation from House Select Committee on Impeachment.

HB 1012 - An Act to protect students and employees at institutions of higher education from critical race theory training and orientation. This bill doesn't interfere with academic freedom & has been endorsed by the SD Board of Regents. Referred to Senate Education

HB 1039 - provide for the assessment of certain agricultural land as non-cropland Referred to Senate Taxation

HB 1041 - Legislative oversight of settlement agreements by state officials/agencies. Referred to Senate State Affairs

HB 1052 - place limitations on the enforcement of federal laws and directive related to firearms and ammunition Passed House Judiciary

HB 1096 - to revise provisions regarding livestock identification. Passed House Agriculture and Natural Resources

HB 1113 Thisis an Act to prohibit threats made with the intent to coerce an abortion and to provide a penalty therefor. Passed House

HB 1129 This is an Act to prohibit forms of discrimination in access to
organ transplantation. Referred to Senate Health and Human Services

HB 1133 This is an Act to provide that the cost of a home study required for an adoption is the responsibility of the Department of Social Services Passed House 

HB 1246 - Establish the Fundamental Right of a Parent in Education Referred to Senate Judiciary (Amended) 

HB 1258 - prohibit obtaining an individual's COVID-19 vaccination status without the consent of the individual Passed House State Affairs (Amended)

HB 1267 (Important note: Doctors can already dispense ivermectin to individuals with a prescription. The problem is that many pharmacies won’t fill) - Allow certain medical professionals to dispense ivermectin to persons with or without a prescription Referred to Senate Health and Human Services

HB 1318 An Act to prohibit medical abortion by telemedicine, to increase the penalty for the unlicensed practice of medicine when performing a medical abortion,

and to declare an emergency. Referred to House Health and Human Services (Amended)

HB 1325 - Revise classification of ag land by soil type (companion to HB 1039 rangeland tax fairness) Passed House

HB 1337 - An Act to protect elementary and secondary students from political indoctrination Referred to Senate Education

SB 137 - An Act to establish gestational surrogacy arrangements and agreements. Dead

SB 175 - make an appropriation to the Department of Game, Fish and Parks for building a shooting range in western South Dakota and to declare an emergency. Passed Senate Committee on Appropriations 

HCR 6006 -To urge the United States Congress and the President of the United States to take no action to employ military forces of the United States in active-duty combat unless the United States Congress has passed an official declaration of war and to bring troops home who are engaged in unconstitutional foreign conflicts. Passed House Military and Veteran Affairs Committee