The 100th Legislative Session is one third of the way done with the completion of Week Three. Governor Larry Rhoden addressed a joint session of the House and Senate for his first time as Governor. Highlights of his speech were the need to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free. We need to have fair and predictable regulations for businesses where the rules aren’t changed in the middle of the game. He stressed the importance of civility, communication, limited government, and transparency.

The South Dakota Senate took up the hobby of interior decorating with the passage of Senate Bill 51. SB 51 requires thousands of posters to be put up in every school classroom in the state. Every poster will have to be accompanied by another document next to it explaining what the poster means. It will increase curriculum and instruction requirements for school districts at multiple grade levels. It includes website publishing and developing materials by the State Department of Education. While the number of people contacting me on the bill was overwhelmingly against, even the handful that asked me to vote yes didn’t justify why so many posters were needed or why other portions of the bill should be included. SB 51 went through the Senate Education Committee, which I am Chairman of, with a hearing lasting over an hour and a lengthy debate on the Senate floor. During the hearing and floor debate, proponents talked about why they like the posters and opponents talked about what was in the bill. What was not in the bill was funding for the thousands of dollars this will cost every school district if implemented. Perhaps even more serious than the financial implications are the hours that will have to be spent by already short-staffed schools to comply with the numerous provisions of this four-page bill. Every hour spent with this takes time away from everything else. SB 51 passed out of Committee, 4-3, and passed the Senate floor, 18-17. It is ironic that this bill passed not long after the Senate passed a resolution applying for a convention of states to limit the powers of the Federal Government. As I said on the Senate floor during this debate, we should not be in a contest with the Federal government to see who can create the most costly and burden-some regulations.

Week Three ended with Tony Vanhuizen of Sioux Falls being sworn in as Lieutenant Governor after the Senate and House both unanimously voted to confirm him. Vanhuizen grew up in Armour, was Chief of Staff to Governor Daugaard and Governor Noem, and was recently a State Representative until being appointed and confirmed as Lieutenant Governor. He is well respected and will provide stability as session continues.

I can be contacted at 605-660-6468 or kyle.schoenfish@sdlegislature. gov -Kyle Schoenfish District 19 State Senator Chairman of Senate Education