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With week 7 and ‘crossover’ day behind us, we’re on the home stretch of the 2026 legislative session. In the final two weeks, we will take up the bills that have already passed the Senate, one-time appropriations, and the budget. The biggest issue still on the table is property tax relief. Everyone seems to agree we need to do something, but the consensus breaks down quickly when we start talking specifics. I am in favor of lowering owner-occupied property taxes, but I am not in favor of shifting that tax to another classification, like agricultural. Any proposal that does this will automatically have my no vote. The Governor’s proposal is SB 96, which creates a county option for a sales-tax approach tied to property-tax relief. I’m not a big fan of that idea as it stands because a likely outcome would result in higher sales tax for D19 residents when shopping in bigger towns, but no local property tax relief back home. Moving the problem around isn’t the same as solving it, and I don’t want “relief” to turn into a different tax that hits families every time they swipe a card, or a plan that plays out unevenly, county to county. We’re also expecting to see another proposal this week, and I’ll be watching for something simple and fair that provides real relief without shifting the burden onto someone else. Beyond property taxes, the other big finish-line items are the budget and appropriations bills. Those decisions set the direction for the year ahead— education, public safety, health care, and the basic services people rely on. With only a couple of weeks left, the focus shifts from big ideas to what we can responsibly pass and pay for. This week, we also had a great group of visitors from our Board of Regents schools— that’s USD, SDSU, Dakota State, Northern State, Black Hills State, and the School of Mines—including students from District 19. It’s always encouraging to see young people paying attention, asking good questions, and learning how the process works. We also had economic development leaders from District 19 and across the state in Pierre for the GOED Conference, working on the nuts and bolts of rural economic development: housing, workforce development and jobs, infrastructure, and keeping our communities competitive. In the weeks ahead, I’ll continue to keep you informed. I also enjoy hearing from each of you—reach out at Drew. Peterson@sdlegislature.gov with your thoughts, concerns, and advice anytime.