Hello District 19 – Tuesday marked the start of the second week of the 100th Legislative Session, and with that, the pace and workload have increased. As of Friday, we only have 30 days left of the session, so I anticipate some long days ahead as we wrestle several major issues. I started the week like many of you dealing with the extreme cold, but when you are a livestock producer, the cold has deeper implications of having to work twice as hard to ensure the herd is taken care of. I’m thankful for the help I have back home on the farm that allows me the time to serve you, even in the most frigid conditions, and happy to report that the forecast is a much warmer outlook for this week. As a livestock producer, I also know first-hand the threat lab-grown meat poses for the industry, consumers, and producers. That’s why I’m proud to be part of the team effort between my fellow Legislators, DANR and the SD ag industry to protect our state’s livestock producers and our consumers. South Dakotans deserve to know their meat comes from our farms and not a laboratory. HB1022 does just that and passed the House unanimously on Thursday. Thursday’s theme was agriculture, I also had the opportunity to attend the 2025 SD FFA Legislative Breakfast, where District 19 was well represented. I ate breakfast with Tucker Peterson of McCook Central and Nora Gordon of Montrose, who are members of FFA at their respective schools. It’s amazing to hear their passion for agriculture, and I left reassured that the future of agriculture in South Dakota is in good hands. With Governor Noem’s confirmation on Saturday, for the first time in the state’s history, we have a new Governor taking office during the session, Lt. Larry Rhoden. I’m confident Secretary of Homeland Security Noem will provide strong leadership in her new role – finally delivering on securing our southern border, reforming the Secret Service and cutting bureaucratic bloat. This upcoming week will bring about a new Lieutenant Governor, which should be announced on either Tuesday or Wednesday. The Legislature is tasked with the responsibility of confirming Governor Rhoden’s choice, an exciting and unique opportunity for us legislators. I look forward to working with Governor Rhoden and his administration on improving our great state. I am always proud to recognize my fellow District 19 residents in Pierre, so be sure to let me know if you are visiting the Capitol as I'd be happy to meet with you. Please reach out with advice, questions, or concerns – I welcome your input. Drew Peterson State Representative, District 19 • Salem drew.peterson@sdlegislature.gov