Because of Martin Luther King, Jr. day on Monday, we only had a four day week. Again, Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:45 is the time for our Health and Human Services Committee meeting for those of you who would like to testify on a bill or watch on TV.

Tuesday morning, we had four bills that passed out to the floor. During Session it was announced that there would be a change of Committee assignments. We again started the Session at 2:00 with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the minutes, made the committee assignments, and went to work. We passed the bills on the consent calendar. The next bill took up a lot of time as we debated setting speed limits at 35 MPH on certain streets so that golf carts could use those streets. It was defeated, but 24 people thought that it was a good idea. We voted to transfer a small piece of surplus land in the Black Hills to Spearfish Canyon Foundation to create a museum.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 7:45 is the normal starting time for our Education Committee. Wednesday we started with HB1008, an act to direct the amendment of the Administrative Rules of South Dakota regarding the awarding of high school credits for participation in extracurricular activities. The discussion on this one bill used up just about the entire committee time. It passed out to the floor on a split vote. We sent the next bill to appropriation committee. The last bill which again is legislating rules that are addressed in the Board of Education rules was passed out onto the floor. I was excused for the Session that afternoon.

On Thursday H&HS had a bill to allow a title change act. This bill was to allow addict counselors to have different titles according to their schooling and experience. It went to the floor. We tabled a bill at the sponsors request. We sent a bill to the 41st day after much discussion. In Session, which again started at 2:00, we spent time on a couple of resolutions and the bills on the consent calendar. At 3:00 we adjourned to hold a memorial service to recognize former legislators who have passed away since the last legislative session. It was a beautiful service and well attended.

We didn’t have Education on Friday. We started early because of the extremely cold temperature so that we could quit early, and get on the road home for the weekend. Our prayer to start our Session was given by Rev. Dr. Will Graham, grandson of legendary evangelist Billy Graham. We dealt with several bills, but one of them that failed, the vote was 34-yay 31-nay 6-excused. Because the bill didn’t get 36 (out of 70)elected members, it wasn’t a majority and failed.

Have a great week, God bless, and talk to you again next week.