Summary
The South Dakota State Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of South Dakota. It is a bicameral legislative body, consisting of the South Dakota Senate, which has 35 members, and the South Dakota House of Representatives, which has 70 members. The two houses are similar in most respects; the Senate alone holds the right to confirm gubernatorial appointments to certain offices. In addition, the Senate votes by roll call vote, whereas the larger house uses an electronic voting system.
The legislature meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. It begins its annual session of the second Tuesday of January each year. The legislative session lasts 40 working days in odd-numbered years, and 35 days working days in even numbered years. Though, in recent years, the legislature has completed its work in 38 working days in both even numbered years as well as odd numbered years. Generally, the legislature meets for four out of every five business days each week until the session ends, excepting on last day which is delayed to allow for consideration of gubernatorial vetoes. This schedule enables legislators to have one working day each week at home in their districts to meet with constituents as well as to tend to other personal matters. In addition, the legislature occasionally meets on Saturdays to make-up for recesses on holidays such as Presidents’ Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
The legislature selects, from its membership, an executive board to tend to administrative matters during the time when the legislature is not in session. The administrative support for the legislature is provided by the South Dakota Legislative Research Council.
The Republican Party of South Dakota has held a supermajority in the state senate since the 1996 election, and in the state house since the 1976 election.
Source: Wikipedia
OnAir Post: SD Legislature
News
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults while repealing much of the state’s new medical marijuana law.
The Adult-Use Marijuana Study Subcommittee, which has been studying the issue since June, voted to recommend a bill that would allow people over 21 to purchase up to 1 ounce (28 grams) of cannabis for recreational use. It would repeal most aspects of the medical marijuana law that voters passed last year, but still contain provisions for people under 21 to use marijuana for medical purposes.
The bill would still need to be cleared by a pair of legislative committees, the full Legislature next year and the governor’s desk to become law. But lawmakers’ willingness to advance the issue showed a growing acknowledgment in the Republican-controlled Statehouse that recreational marijuana legalization has popular support.
KELO, – October 4, 2021
A total of 27 senators put their names on a petition for a special session of the South Dakota Legislature that will begin November 9 to investigate whether state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg committed any impeachable acts in the crash that killed pedestrian Joe Boever last year.
Senate president pro tem Lee Schoenbeck released the names Monday morning. House Speaker Spencer Gosch has said he doesn’t plan to release names of representatives who supported the petition.
A two-thirds majority in each chamber is necessary for the Legislature to call itself into special session. That means at least 24 of the 35 senators and at least 47 of the 70 representatives.
KELOLAND News requested the names from each chamber so the public can know whether the two-thirds requirement was met.
This appears to be the first time that South Dakota lawmakers have formally looked at an impeachment.
Governor Kristi Noem, a Republican, has repeatedly called for the Republican attorney general to step down. The governor said he should be impeached if he doesn’t resign.
KELO, – September 9, 2021
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — House Republican leader Kent Peterson said Thursday he wants the South Dakota Legislature to call itself into special session to consider whether to impeach state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.
The House considered a resolution in the regular session that was deferred by House Speaker Spencer Gosch because Ravnsborg was still facing three second-class misdemeanor charges for a September 12 crash at the west edge of Highmore. That night, the car Ravnsborg was driving struck and killed pedestrian Joe Boever, who was walking on the north shoulder of US 14.
Ravnsborg, a Republican, pleaded no-contest last month to improper lane change and using an electronic device while driving. Retired Circuit Judge John Brown sentenced Ravnsborg to the maximum fine of $500 on each charge. A third misdemeanor for careless driving was dropped as part of a deal.
Peterson’s Thursday announcement came on Gosch’s letterhead. The Legislature needs two-thirds of its senators and two-thirds of its representatives to sign a petition for a special session.
SD News Watch, – March 25, 2021
Despite failed attempts by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to delay implementation of a medical marijuana program, a legislative leader on marijuana issues believes the state can be ready to roll out its first prescriptions for legal pot by Nov. 18, 2021, as scheduled.
Noem said the state needed more time to enact a well-designed regulatory framework, but her bill to put off the July 1, 2021, implementation date by a year failed in the Legislature.
The medical marijuana program, created by Initiated Measure 26, was approved by nearly 70% of voters in November 2020. IM 26 requires creation of a regulatory framework by the Department of Health within 120 days of its taking effect, or by Oct. 29, 2021, and issuance of the first medical marijuana prescription cards to patients within 140 days, or by Nov. 18, 2021.
About
Source: Wikipedia
Selection of state legislators
Members of both houses of the state legislature are elected in November of every even-numbered year to serve a two-year term. Since 1993, legislators have been limited to serving four consecutive 2-year terms in a single house, but there is no limit on the number of non-consecutive terms a legislator may serve. A legislator who serves the limit is eligible for election again after 2 years. Vacancies in the legislature are filled by gubernatorial appointment.
State legislators are elected from 35 legislative districts; each multi-member district elects one senator and two representatives. In 33 districts, representatives are elected at-large from the entire district. District 26 and 28, however, are divided into two house districts, each of which elects one representative. This is intended to ensure that Native Americans can elect representatives of their choice.
Legislative districts are redrawn every ten years, following the United States Census. The current districts were adopted by the legislature in 2011, following the 2010 census. Each district encompasses approximately 23,200 people.
As a result of a 2005 federal court order, several legislative districts in the southwest corner of the state were redrawn for the 2006 elections. District 26 was split into two single-member house districts, much like District 28. The state appealed the District Court decision that resulted in these changes, but the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s ruling. The Republican-dominated legislature decided not to appeal the decision.
Wikipedia
The South Dakota Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of South Dakota. It is a bicameral legislative body, consisting of the South Dakota Senate, which has 35 members, and the South Dakota House of Representatives, which has 70 members.[1] The two houses are similar in most respects; the Senate alone holds the right to confirm gubernatorial appointments to certain offices. In addition, the Senate votes by roll call vote, whereas the larger house uses an electronic voting system.
The legislature meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. It begins its annual session of the second Tuesday of January each year. The legislative session lasts 40 working days in odd-numbered years, and 35 days working days in even numbered years. Though, in recent years, the legislature has completed its work in 38 working days in both even numbered years as well as odd numbered years. Generally, the legislature meets for four out of every five business days each week until the session ends, excepting on the last day which is delayed to allow for consideration of gubernatorial vetoes. This schedule enables legislators to have one working day each week at home in their districts to meet with constituents as well as to tend to other personal matters. In addition, the legislature occasionally meets on Saturdays to make-up for recesses on holidays such as Presidents' Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
The legislature selects, from its membership, an executive board to tend to administrative matters during the time when the legislature is not in session. The administrative support for the legislature is provided by the South Dakota Legislative Research Council.
The Republican Party of South Dakota has held a supermajority in the state senate since the 1996 election, and in the state house since the 1976 election.[2]
Selection of state legislators
Members of both houses of the state legislature are elected in November of every even-numbered year to serve a two-year term. Since 1993,[3] legislators have been limited to serving four consecutive 2-year terms in a single house, but there is no limit on the number of non-consecutive terms a legislator may serve. A legislator who serves the limit is eligible for election again after 2 years. Vacancies in the legislature are filled by gubernatorial appointment.
State legislators are elected from 35 legislative districts; each multi-member district elects one senator and two representatives. In 33 districts, representatives are elected at-large from the entire district. District 26 and 28, however, are divided into two house districts, each of which elects one representative. This is intended to ensure that Native Americans can elect representatives of their choice.
Legislative districts are redrawn every ten years, following the United States census. In 2021, South Dakota enacted new state legislative and congressional districts after the legislature approved a compromise between two competing proposals. Both chambers voted to approve the final proposal, known as the Sparrow map, on Nov. 10, 2021. The House approved the new districts in a 37-31 vote and the Senate by a vote of 30-2. Gov. Kristi Noem (R) later signed the proposal into law.[4]
See also
- South Dakota Legislative Research Council
- South Dakota House of Representatives
- South Dakota Senate
- South Dakota State Capitol
- Governor of South Dakota
- Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
- Elections in South Dakota
- List of South Dakota state legislatures
- Legislature
- Bicameralism
References
- ^ Schoenfeld 2012, p. 13.
- ^ "South Dakota Legislator Reference Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
- ^ Schoenfeld (2012), p. 14.
- ^ Rice, Ethan (November 15, 2021). "South Dakota enacts new state legislative district maps". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- Schoenfeld, Fred (Legislative Research Council), (2012). [1] "South Dakota Legislator Reference Book"
External links
List of South Dakota legislative districts Each district elects one Senator and two members of the House. 33 districts elect their House members at-large, and districts 26 and 28 are split into 2 sub-districts. | |
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