WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT) — Area lawmakers held a cracker barrel session at the Codington County Extension Building Saturday on the final day of the Winter Farm Show.

One of the topics that came up was the so-called “riot boosting” bill, which is aimed to prevent violent protests from occurring in South Dakota along the route of Keystone XL pipeline construction.

Governor Kristi Noem does not want to see a repeat of the violent protests that occurred in North Dakota during construction of the Dakota Access pipeline, and the hundreds of arrests that occurred there.

Legislation was passed last year, but a judge found parts of it unconstitutional, so its been re-worked.

Senator John Wiik of Big Stone City shared his thoughts.

State Representative Nancy York also talked about the bill.

The riot boosting bill passed its first vote last week, clearing the House State Affairs Committee on a 10-3 vote.

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