Gov. Kristi Noem starts session on better footing with Legislature

Lawmakers say communication has improved

PIERRE – A year ago, Gov. Kristi Noem stepped into the House of Representatives to deliver the State of the State Address. It was the start of what most observers agree became the worst legislative session for a governor in recent memory.

Noem went on to lose several high-profile policy goals in that session.

But that was then, and this is now.

Noem returned on Jan. 9 to start this year’s session. And this State of the State was far different from those in years past. Governors typically use the speeches to frame their agendas and pitch lawmakers and the public about why their policies are important. In 2016, for example, Gov. Dennis Daugaard explained why he thought the state needed a half-cent sales tax increase to raise teacher salaries.

Noem last year laid out goals of eliminating the sales tax on groceries. And she asked the Legislature to create a board, overseen by her office, to vet foreign ag land purchases. Both, among other proposals, were defeated.

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