Monday, March 6, begins our final week of the 92nd legislative session.  Thank you for your feedback, comments, and questions about bills that hold some interest for you.  I truly appreciate your input.
Bills in the education and taxation committees have all been heard but appropriations  will be sending bills through this week as our state constitution requires the legislature to submit a balanced budget.  There are a few bills that have yet to be heard in committee early this week including SB171 and 54 dealing with campaign finance.  HB1076, which creates a state government accountability board, passed in senate state affairs and will move on to debate in the full senate. SB95 will add cannabidiol to the list of schedule IV controlled substances and exclude it from the definition of marijuana.  This bill passed in House Health & Human Services on March 2.
The full House voted to pass SB149 before adjourning last Thursday. This bill provided certain protections to faith-based child placement agencies.  The bill was amended before passage to require that these agencies provide contact information of other child placement agencies.
The Madison Elementary School fourth grade classes were in Pierre last Thursday, and it was great to meet with them and their teachers and chaperones.  It’s a long day for them, and we appreciate their enthusiasm and interest in the legislative process.  I hope they all learned something to share with their school and families.
I am honored to serve District 8 and look forward to meeting with many of you when I return home after the session ends next Friday.