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Week 5 is here, and Pierre is starting to feel like harvest and weaning season: there’s a lot to get done in a short amount of time. We’ve now got roughly 570 House and Senate bills filed, plus resolutions, this year—numbers South Dakota hasn’t seen in almost 30 years. Back home, Lauren remains the real MVP, holding everything together while I’m away. The kids keep us laughing, even when we’re running on fumes. As always, I’m grateful for my dad and the crew on the farm, and my in-laws, who keep things moving while I’m in Pierre. There’s still a lot left to negotiate in Pierre, but chores don’t negotiate. Calving season begins as the session winds down in a month. The biggest topic in the building right now is still property taxes. There is a pile of proposals on the table, ranging from minor adjustments to major rewrites. Everyone agrees that many people are feeling the squeeze. The hard part is finding relief that doesn’t simply shift the burden onto ag land, small businesses, or the folks who already carry most of the load. Sometimes the most important work in Pierre isn’t passing a bill—it’s stopping a bad one. I led the opposition to HB 1103, a proposal that could’ve put citizens and ag producers at risk of losing access to water right now. I worked closely with Rural Water, the Municipal League, and several other groups over the weekend and into Monday on the House floor. We defeated the measure 49–16. Water isn’t optional. Bills like this are appearing more often, and I spend a lot of time making sure they don’t become law. Thanks to everyone in District 19 who made calls and helped push it across the finish line—it was a heavy lift. One of the best parts of this week was welcoming many friends and neighbors to the Capitol. Ag Unity (SD Cattlemen's, Corn Growers, Farm Bureau, Pork Producers, Soybean, Dairy Producers, and Poultry) hosted its Social on Monday, and it was great to see familiar faces from several ag groups. The Municipal League was here as well, with local leaders—including folks from District 19. We also held Czech Days at the Capitol, with royalty in attendance, along with the co-op association and other ag organizations. I was proud to recognize my dad on the House floor. I met with the EMS Association at their meet-and-greet and discussed working with them on our continued efforts to bring new funding to our ambulance systems. I also spoke with the Soybean Genesis leadership group, and enjoyed visits from students from Freeman and Avon. 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.