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South Dakota - Adjournment Graphic

South Dakota adjourned its 2018 legislative session sine die on March 26, and Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) finished acting on the bills sent to his desk on April 10. Legislators passed raises for teachers and state employees, including themselves, as part of the $4.7 billion state budget. The legislature also passed new rules for ballot measure campaigns and a bill asking voters to decide whether the threshold to amend the state constitution should be changed from 50 percent + 1 or increased to 55 percent.

Legislative Highlights

  • The formation of a new political party, or the addition of a minor party or independent candidate to a ballot has been made easier with the passage of HB 1286. The bill lowers the signature threshold, moves back filing deadlines, and allows small parties to bypass primaries and appoint candidates via convention.
  • Craft brewers chalked up a win when Governor Daugaard signed SB 173. The bill allows brewers to sell up to 1,500 barrels to restaurants and stores without going through a distributor, as well as increases the barrel production limit from 5,000 to 30,000 per year while retaining onsite licenses to sell wine and cider and keeping offsite taprooms open.

Election Preview

South Dakota voters go to the polls this fall to select the next governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and all seats in both chambers of the legislature. Republican voters will decide in a June 5 primary election if they prefer Attorney General Marty Jackley (R) or U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R) to replace term-limited Gov. Daugaard. The GOP primary winner will face state Sen. Billie Sutton (D) and former state Rep. Lora Hubbel (I) in November.

Although there are candidates on both sides of the aisle for nearly every state House and Senate race, South Dakota is solidly Republican and that is not expected to change. Primaries for these races will be also held on June 5. Candidates for statewide offices other than governor will be selected at party conventions June 15-16 for Democrats and June 20-23 for Republicans.