The 101st South Dakota Legislature convened on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, and the politics are thick.
Week one focused on opening ceremonies and initial setup of the house and senate:
Gov. Larry Rhoden delivered his State of the State address Jan. 13, highlighting property tax relief, K-12 priorities in a challenging year for increases, airport improvements, criminal justice reforms, and pro-life priorities amid slower revenue growth. This agenda is framework and the ideas will now be debated. There are over 550-600 bills ready to begin debating.
Committees (Appropriations, Legislative Procedure) held early meetings, and the State of the Judiciary and State of the Tribes addresses are being presented today (Wednesday). Most committees do not have bills to work with in this first week, but next week will be full.
With all 105 seats up in November 2026 and 4 Governor candidates, expect quick action and differing opinions on taxes, spending, data centers, economic development, and school funding.
The session runs through early March. Track live proceedings, bills, and agendas at sdlegislature.gov. Please reach out to me by email or phone anytime [email protected] or 604-228-5555.
