PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — It’s a busy week for some, but not all, House committees in the South Dakota State Legislature in Pierre.
The 2020 legislative session resumes Tuesday after taking Monday off for Presidents’ Day.
More than 500 bills are at various stages of the legislative process, the bulk awaiting a first committee hearing.
Bills must receive committee action in their house of origin no later than February 27, just eight legislative working days from Tuesday.
But the workload doesn’t appear to be evenly divided, at least not on the House side.
While the House State Affairs committee prepares to meet twice daily if necessary, House Taxation and House Local Government have no meetings scheduled on Tuesday.
How, when, and where a bill goes to a House committee is the prerogative of the Speaker of the House, Republican Steven Haugaard of Sioux Falls.
The initial committee assignment a bill receives can be a critical factor in its success or failure, especially as cross-over day draws near.
(Patrick Callahan, South Dakota Broadcasters Association, contributed to this report.)
