Erik Nelson

South Dakota voters, we need your help! In addition to providing our regular weekly recap of the week's activity in Pierre, we have an important action item.

With Week 5 in the books, we have officially reached the halfway point of the 2025 South Dakota legislative session. Lawmakers wrapped up Legislative Day 21 this week, and the session ends on Legislative Day 38.

The calendar has turned to February, and suddenly we are already four weeks into Legislative Session. The deadline for introducing bills was this past Wednesday, so the final tally for the Legislature’s 2025 agenda is over 540 bills, resolutions and commemorations.

It’s hard to believe, but we are at the end of January and the completion of Week 3 of the 2025 South Dakota legislative session.

A group of AARP South Dakota volunteers will head to Pierre next week, and we'll be hosting two events where they will be able to talk with state lawmakers.

The 2025 South Dakota legislative session is off and running, and AARP South Dakota has Pierre covered for you!

The 2024 South Dakota Legislative Session has come to a close. The Legislature considered 258 House Bills (HB), 31 House Commemorations, 15 House Resolutions, 220 Senate Bills (SB), 18 Senate Commemorations and 17 Senate Resolutions.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Next Tuesday morning, we will be sending out an action alert allowing you to thank South Dakota legislators for passing bills designed to improve long-term care services and supports in the state. With our other action alerts, we have asked legislators for a specific vote on a bill, so this will be a great opportunity to express appreciation for their service and for taking actions to help improve options for South Dakotans as they age.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Before we get to our update on what happened in Pierre, this week, we want you to be watching for another email coming from us soon on the House State Affairs Committee Hearing on SJR501. As a reminder, this is the resolution that would place a measure on the November ballot related to work reporting requirements for some individuals eligible under Medicaid expansion. When you see that action alert email, please take a moment to send a message to committee members urging them to respect the will of the voters who passed Medicaid expansion and vote NO on SJR 501.

As the President’s Day holiday approaches, the action in the legislature will be fast and furious for the next few weeks!