South Dakota’s citizen Legislature faces a tight schedule with only nine weeks and 38 days to address a high number of bills.
But unlike previous years, the initial week, typically reserved for speeches and networking with other lawmakers and lobbyists, saw lawmakers immediately voting on bills in committee. That came after, for the first time since its inception, the State of the Tribes addressed occurred on the same day as the State of the Judiciary speech.
The change, according to leadership from each legislative chamber, was intentionally implemented in coordination between both chambers.
“What we have been looking at is how can we get more days and time in to get the work done?” said Sen. Majority Leader Casey Crabtree. “We are up here to tackle the toughest challenges, and we only have about forty days to do that.”
With a surge in filed bills and resolutions, totaling 185 as of Sunday evening, legislators are feeling the pressure to efficiently manage their limited timeframe. House Majority Leader Will Mortenson emphasized the need for bills to be ready to go, or face defeat.
“If they’re not ready for prime time – as is the parlance around here – they are to be defeated,” Mortenson warned during a committee hearing last week.
The increase in the number of bills introduced is not atypical in the session of an election year either. Nearly 100 more bills and resolutions were introduced in 2022 than during the 2023 legislative session.
Jan. 25 is the last day for unlimited bill and resolution introductions, and Feb. 1 is the last day that committee bills and resolutions can be introduced.
