Noem touts S.D. as 'pilot project' of conservative reforms in State of State Address

In departure, governor doesn't set major policy goals for legislative session

PIERRE – Gov. Kristi Noem kicked off the 99^th Legislative Session Tuesday with this year’s State of the State Address, anchoring the speech to a top-10 list of how South Dakota promotes freedom and small government.

The speech was a departure from the governor’s past State of the States, in that it was thin on sweeping policy goals she hopes to achieve in the next nine weeks during the session. Instead, this year’s speech highlighted how South Dakota’s policies promote Freedom Works Here, the theme of a workforce advertising campaign aimed at attracting out-of-state workers with conservative values to move to South Dakota.

In last year’s address, Noem asked the Legislature to consider major policy goals, including the elimination of the sales tax on groceries, expanded paid family leave and the creation of a board to oversee agriculture purchases. That board would have been charged with weeding out ag purchases from China and other foreign adversaries.

This year’s address focused on what she said is already working in the state. She said South Dakota is doing better than other states because it embraced conservative principles.

“I’ve often called our state small, more like a pilot project for conservative reforms to prove if they really do work,” she said. “And we have proven that they do.”

Are Black Hills voters being shortchanged?