Whether or not there are vetoes, Legislature plans busy final day
As of Thursday evening, Gov. Dennis Daugaard hadn’t issued a veto against any legislation passed this year.
State lawmakers likely won’t know until sometime Friday (March 23) whether he has used his power to try to stop any of the 27 bills remaining on his desk from becoming state law.
Either way, lawmakers scheduled a substantial variety of activities for Monday when they gather for the final time of the 2018 regular session.
The Senate is scheduled to convene at 10 a.m. CT. The House of Representatives is set for 11 a.m. CT. Neither has anything on its calendar other than consideration of possible vetoes.
Legislators need a two-thirds majority in each chamber to override a governor’s veto.
One of the busiest legislators will be Rep. Jean Hunhoff, R-Yankton. She chairs the Government Operations and Audit Committee that meets at 8:30 a.m. CT.
On the panel’s agenda are setting dates for meetings, discussing possible topics for the months ahead, talking about subpoena power and getting updates on the 2017 statewide audit and on the independent accounting firm the Department of Transportation is hiring. It has 10 members.
The Rules Review Committee meets “at the call” of its chairwoman, who also is Hunhoff. Among action items is setting meeting dates for the rest of 2018.
The panel of six decides whether state officials and state boards and commissions have followed the proper steps in setting rules.
The interim Joint Committee on Appropriations meets at “TBD” – a time “to be determined.”
Lead co-chair for the 18 members is Rep. David Anderson, R-Hudson. Another is Hunhoff. Among action items are letters of intent to state agencies.
The Executive Board meets 15 minutes after the Legislature concludes. Its chairman is Republican Sen. Brock Greenfield of Clark. Among action items are selection of topics for interim studies and discussion of program evaluation. It has 15 members.
The State-Tribal Relations Committee meets 15 minutes after the Legislature concludes. Its chairman is Democratic Sen. Troy Heinert of Mission. It will set dates and topics. It has 10 members.