Overview

• South Dakota lawmakers convene for a two-month session with a focus on workforce needs, the budget, and tax cuts.
• Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has proposed a nearly $7.3 billion plan for fiscal year 2025, emphasizing a lean budget amid rising inflation.
• Noem's budget includes 4% increases for K-12 education, health care providers, and state employees, and a proposal to make a temporary sales tax cut permanent.
• Republican priorities include new prison construction, college affordability, workforce needs, and the sustainability of long-term care in rural communities.
• Democrats, holding 11 of 105 seats, are focused on child care needs, pre-K education, teacher pay, and proposals to lengthen the period for worker compensation claims and to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.