Freshman senator prevails in felony drug ingestion reform

Sen. Tamara Grove advances bill to the House, where it faces uncertain future

PIERRE — A freshman South Dakota senator successfully navigated a mine field this week where past lawmakers have blown up trying to change the state’s drug ingestion penalty.

Sen. Tamara Grove managed to get a bill that changes a first-offense ingestion conviction lowered from a class-6 felony to a class-1 misdemeanor. The Republican lawmaker from Lower Brule is championing a cause that many before her have attempted to change.

Her success is still in doubt. Despite making it through the Senate on an 18-17 vote, the bill must now go through the House, and if it passes there, it would head to Gov. Larry Rhoden for his consideration. Still, after the Senate secretary announced the final tally Thursday afternoon, several of Grove’s colleagues congratulated her, with Sioux Falls Sen. Sue Peterson, who supported the bill, giving her a hug.

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