After a whirlwind eight months that took him from a gubernatorial appointment to the South Dakota House floor, Britton’s Nick Fosness is back in his office at Marshall County Healthcare Center with a new perspective on public service.
Fosness was appointed in August by Gov. Larry Rhoden to fill the District 1 House seat following the resignation of Chris Reder. While the path to Pierre was unexpected, Fosness said the experience of serving in his first legislative session has been both challenging and rewarding.
“Working with incredible people that love our state stands out the most,” Fosness said. “For those of us there for the right reasons, we are doing meaningful work.”
He added that one of his early takeaways was the importance of thoughtful decision making. “Voting ‘no’ is just as important as voting ‘yes.’ Some of these bills simply are not ready,” he said.
Fosness described the session as particularly complex. “My first year was a challenge because there are four Republicans running for governor,” he said. “We still need to focus on what is best for South Dakota rather than staging for politics.”
Coming into the role, Fosness said he was surprised by how difficult it can be to reach agreement, even within the same party. “The difficulty finding consensus in two chambers stood out,” he said. “Not everyone in the same party walks in lockstep.”
He also emphasized the importance of collaboration when crafting legislation. “When writing new legislation, you need to include state agencies, proponents and opponents,” he said. “You have to vet out concerns before you finalize anything.”
Despite differences in viewpoints, Fosness said the overall atmosphere among lawmakers was positive. “Republicans and Democrats in South Dakota get along well,” he said, while acknowledging there are divisions within the Republican Party. “People assume every Republican thinks or votes the same, and that’s not the case.”
Building relationships proved to be one of the most valuable parts of the experience. “Even if I fundamentally disagree, I can still appreciate people as human beings,” Fosness said. “I have a great amount of respect for the citizen legislators on both sides of the aisle.”
Several key issues helped define the session for him, particularly efforts aimed at property tax relief. Lawmakers approved measures that give counties additional flexibility to use sales tax revenue to reduce the burden on homeowners, along with adjustments to state funding allocations. Fosness said those discussions were among the most significant of the session.
“It was one of the biggest moments,” he said, noting the balancing act between providing tax relief and maintaining funding for schools and essential services.
Fosness also pointed to a number of other measures he supported, including legislation addressing abortion pill regulations, funding increases for schools, state employees and health care providers. He highlighted the expansion of behavioral health education programs in Aberdeen and funding for improvements to the Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery as examples of long term investments.
In addition, the legislature secured the allocation of $403M over the next two years for Rural Health Transformation Funding aimed at strengthening rural health care systems, an issue Fosness said is especially important to his district.
“This year was the most bills introduced since 1998, which can be overwhelming,” he said. “It’s a big responsibility to read a bill and decide if it’s good for our district.”
“In District 1, I heard from commissioners about the impact of property taxes on counties,” he said. “Cities are also concerned about sales tax issues, and from regular people, I heard about farm prices and the importance of K-12 funding.”
Balancing his legislative duties with his full-time role as a hospital CEO required careful coordination. Fosness credited his team at Marshall County Healthcare Center for making it possible.
“I’m blessed to work with an amazing team and an excellent Governing Board,” he said. “I was still able to be here one day per week, and we’re doing great. Our leadership team and the board see the bigger picture. It’s important to have that representation in Pierre when it comes to rural healthcare.”
The time commitment also required support from his family. Fosness made 18 trips back and forth to Pierre during the session. “That’s a big commitment, and my family agreed that I could make it,” he said. “Being away is a sacrifice, but it’s small compared to others who serve. If I can make the state better for my kids, I’ll be proud.”
Looking ahead, Fosness said the experience has reinforced his desire to focus on practical solutions. As he seeks reelection, he said his priorities center on long term growth and stability for the state.
“I’ve been encouraged by many people across the state,” he said. “I think they see that I’m driven by facts and logic. I want South Dakota to be a place where my kids and grandkids want to live.”
Economic development, he said, will be a key focus moving forward.
“If we don’t have our eyes on economic development, we will continue to tax shift,” Fosness said. “We need to invest in large scale development. If we don’t have new families and new businesses, we will miss the boat.”
He added that serving in the legislature is about being part of the solution. “You can’t complain about issues like Medicaid funding in rural nursing homes if you’re not willing to be part of fixing them,” he said.
As he reflects on his first session, Fosness said the opportunity to serve has been meaningful.
“It’s an honor to serve our district,” he said. “If asked to return to Pierre, I’ll serve with the best interest of our district and our rural lifestyle.”
