Governor Noem & SD House exchange letters regarding HB1217

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota lawmakers spent the day Monday in a back-and-forth scuffle with Governor Kristi Noem over a style & form veto and words.

The Governor issued the style & form veto of HB1217, the trans-gender, women’s sports fairness bill. The House rejected that veto on a vote of sixty-seven to two.

Representative Mike Stevens of Yankton says that led to an exchange of letters between the House and the Governor.

Stevens says Representatives then debated the Governor’s veto and voted.

The veto was upheld on a vote of twenty-four to forty-five. Forty-seven yes votes were needed to sustain the veto.

Stevens says the Governor also refused to accept a follow up letter from the House.

Noem later issued executive orders implementing much of what was in the original bill and said she plans to call a special session in May or June to attempt to pass a similar bill.