Budget, smoke-outs and pot: Legislature enters its last days
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota lawmakers have just four more days to work out most of the details in this year's legislative session.
As deadlines loom — and issues from the budget to medical marijuana and self-defense laws remain unsettled — many lawmakers are expecting some long nights at the Capitol in Pierre. Here are top issues to watch during the week:
THE BUDGET
South Dakota Republicans normally pride themselves on their thriftiness, but not this year. With an unprecedented amount of one-time funds — thanks largely to a windfall of federal relief money for the pandemic — Gov. Kristi Noem and lawmakers have looked to spend big. Both chambers have approved $50 million to go towards an endowment for a needs-based scholarship, but several other priorities have yet to clear the final hurdles.
“This is a year unlike any that we’ve seen in statehood with the amount of dollars available and the amount of opportunities we have in front of us,” said House Republican leader Kent Peterson.
Read more: https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/budget-smoke-outs-and-pot-legislature-enters-its-last-days/article_e0ea04cb-320e-587e-9540-d6fc1dc3bb90.html