PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- A bill that would spend almost thirteen million dollars for a new state lab has been on a potholed road through the South Dakota legislature. Representative Chris Karr of Sioux Falls was a “No” vote in committee on the spending. Representative Tony Venhuizen of Sioux Falls says cost estimates are coming under control.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- A bill hoghoused in the South Dakota Senate would have given home owners a four hundred twenty five dollar credit on their property tax bills. It was sent to a conference committee with the House. Majority Leader Will Mortenson of Pierre says the conference committee took care of it. Mortenson asked the House… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- In a session where fellow Republicans have rebuked her on several pieces of key legislation, Governor Kristi Noem chalked up a win Tuesday. On a 41 to 29 vote, the House failed to get the two-thirds majority necessary to override the Governor’s veto of HB 1109. The bill would have allowed business improvement… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, appeared before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Tuesday. Committee member, South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds said he believes Biden Administration policies have led to the current high rate of inflation. Rounds said Federal Reserve actions won’t directly address the energy production shortfall. Rounds… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- South Dakota Senator John Thune along with Virginia Senator Mark Warner introduced the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act. Thune says the bill is aimed at foreign technology threats, including Tik Tok. Thune says a more coherent strategy is needed. Thune says the threat from… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(KJJQ)- South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson is very concerned with the threat posed to the U.S. by China. He’s a member of House Select Committee on China — which has made a point of showing bipartisan unity on their mission: protecting U.S. economic and technological interests. Johnson says the Chinese Communist Party “is a… Read more »

BROOKINGS, S.D.(WNAX)- Weather observers expect the La Nina climate driver to finally fade away this spring and summer. That is a cooling of the Pacific Ocean surface which has an impact on North American weather. South Dakota State Climatologist Laura Edwards says this La Nina has been persistent. Edwards says they can still get some… Read more »

BROOKINGS, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota Department of Ag and Natural Resources has new incentives for landowners in the Big Sioux Watershed to add land to the riparian buffer initiative. That is land close to streams and rivers, if set aside, that could slow pollution flowing into the river. Jay Gilbertson, manager of the East Dakota… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota legislators will probably not see the final general budget bill until just before scheduled adjournment on Thursday. Joint Committee on Appropriations Chair, Senator Jean Hunhoff of Yankton, says they are still waiting on spending bills. Hunhoff says she is looking at future budget problems. Hunhoff says they still don’t have hard… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota House debated a bill that would set aside one hundred million dollars in federal funding for water projects. Representative Jess Olson of Rapid City, one of the sponsors, said the need for water is growing. Representative Tony Venhuizen of Sioux Falls offered an amendment. Representative Steve Duffy of Rapid City… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- Ownership of ag land by foreigners, especially Chinese has become a hot button issue. South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds says he is working on a bill at the federal level. Rounds says they want the US Ag Secretary to be involved. Rounds says the bill would allow some sales in certain cases. Some… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(HubCityRadio)- The South Dakota Senate Tuesday didn’t approve the changes made by the House on SB40.  When SB40 passes the Senate on an 18-16 vote, the bill would allow the gubernatorial candidate to select his or her choice for Lt. Governor for the Primaries.  It would also place all the State Office positions on… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) – Without debate, the South Dakota House Tuesday rejects the Senate’s “hog house” of a bill to revive removing the sales tax off food. The House rejected HB 1094 55 to 14 to both not concur and not appoint a conference committee. The remaining sales tax cut before the legislature is HB… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- As South Dakota lawmakers work out details of the 2024 budget, the priority of the Board of Regents is keeping the tuition freeze for another year. Board President Pam Roberts says the freeze helped them stabilize enrollment last year. Roberts says the freeze is part of ongoing workforce development efforts. The Regents need… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- A bill that would have set up a funding source for regional county jails was killed in the South Dakota legislature last week.  That continued a trend of lawmakers killing bills that aided counties. House Majority Leader Will Mortenson of Pierre says county budget increases were limited for a reason. Mortenson says counties… Read more »