Gov. Daugaard Appoints Costello and Judson To Economic Development Board
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has appointed Pat Costello and Matt Judson to serve on the Board of Economic Development. Costello, vice president of Schoeneman’s in Sioux Falls, and Judson, president of First National Bank in Pierre, replace Greg Heineman and Tony Klein.

Gov. Daugaard Touts Early Results of New Grants for Grads Housing Program
South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard today released early results of the recently launched South Dakota Housing Development Authority Grants for Grads program, which aims to assist recent graduates in purchasing their first home in South Dakota.


Governor's Column: Celebrating South Dakota’s Conservationists
In South Dakota, we are fortunate to live on a landscape managed by dedicated farming and ranching families. For generations, they’ve known that their livelihoods depend on being good stewards of soil, water, livestock and wildlife.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the 2018 Associated School Board’s Academic Excellence Recognition Luncheon at the Ramkota in Pierre.


Gov. Daugaard Declares Day of Remembrance for Anniversary of State Plane Crash
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has declared tomorrow as a day of remembrance to memorialize Gov. George S. Mickelson and the seven other individuals who lost their lives in a state plane crash 25 years ago.

Gov. Daugaard Orders Flags At Half-Staff For Barbara Bush
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is asking that all flags in the state be flown at half-staff, effective immediately, to honor the life of First Lady Barbara Bush who passed away on Tuesday, April 17.


Governor's Column: A Legacy That Still Inspires
This coming week will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Gov. George S. Mickelson. On April 19, 1993, Governor Mickelson was returning from Cincinnati, Ohio, where he had been meeting with the owners of the John Morrell packing plant in Sioux Falls. The plane crashed near Dubuque, Iowa.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at Terex Utilities new facility ground breaking ceremony that is being held at 15th Avenue SE in Watertown.


Gov. Daugaard Orders State Capitol Flags At Half-Staff For Former Rep. Jim Endres
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is ordering flags to fly half-staff at the State Capitol on Thursday, April 12, to honor the life of former state Rep. James Endres.

Sen. Netherton Resigns, Governor Invites Public Input
State Sen. Jenna Netherton has resigned her seat in the South Dakota State Senate. Netherton, a Sioux Falls Republican, has served in the Senate since 2015, and previously served in the House of Representatives from 2011-14.


Governor's Column: Continuing The Courtesy Patrol's Legacy
Eighty-three years ago, Gov. Tom Berry appointed South Dakota’s first patrolmen to enforce traffic laws and provide assistance to the public.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will introduce European Union Ambassador David O’Sullivan at the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast at the Holiday Inn City Centre.


Governor's Column: Expecting Another Busy Year For South Dakota's Parks
It is officially spring and summer is around the corner. Now is a good time to plan a summer trip to one of our state parks. If not a week-long vacation, consider at least a weekend or weeknight stay.

Lost Documents Raise Dakota Statehood Questions
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today the authentication of historical documents proving North Dakota and South Dakota are actually one state. Overlooked addendums to the statehood proclamations of both states indicate the existence of a single state, “Dakota.”

Zolnowsky, Commissioner of Bureau of Information and Telecommunications, to Retire
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that David Zolnowsky, Commissioner of the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (BIT), will retire at the end of this month.

News Tips
The Governor and First Lady are inviting families to take part in the 65th Annual Elks Easter Egg Hunt on the Governor’s residence lawn at 1 p.m. CDT on Easter. Children up to age 12 are invited to participate in the Easter egg hunt.


Daugaards Invite Families To Attend Annual Easter Egg Hunt
The Governor and First Lady are inviting families to take part in the 65th Annual Elks Easter Egg Hunt on the Governor’s residence lawn at 1 p.m. CDT on Easter.


Gov. Daugaard Signs Veterans Cemetery Bill
Gov. Dennis Daugaard today signed Senate Bill 91 to establish a new state veterans cemetery in East River South Dakota.

Governor's Column: A Challenge To The SD Ag Foundation
This past week, on Tuesday, March 20, we celebrated National Ag Day. It was a day proclaimed by the President to recognize the “preeminent role that agriculture plays in our daily lives” and “agriculture’s continuing importance to rural America and our country’s economy.”

Gov. Daugaard Signs Last Bills
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has signed the remaining bills from the 2018 Legislative Session into law. Senate Bill 166 was the final bill signed by Daugaard, and is anticipated to be the last bill he will sign as governor.

Gov. Daugaard Vetoes HB 1268
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has vetoed HB 1268, an Act to provide for revised dates to prefile legislation.

Gov. Daugaard Vetoes SB 94
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has vetoed SB 94, an Act to establish certain provisions regarding the opportunity scholarship program.

Gov. Daugaard Vetoes HB 1188
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has vetoed HB 1188, an Act to establish certain provisions regarding postsecondary tuition assistance programs.

Gov. Daugaard Issues Style and Form Vetoes
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has issued style and form vetoes for the following bills for SB 76 and SB 90.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the Teen Mock Legislative Session for Middle and High Schoolers on the fourth floor of the State Capitol Building.


Governor Signs Precision Ag Construction Legislation, Also Signs Other Bills
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has signed two bills authorizing and funding a precision ag facility at South Dakota State University. The legislation supports the nation’s first four-year degree in precision agriculture at SDSU.

Governor Signs Micro-Brewing Legislation, Additional Alcohol Bills
Today, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed Senate Bill 173, which removes barriers for microbreweries by increasing the production limit to 30,000 barrels of beer per year and allowing microbreweries to self-distribute their product.


Gov. Daugaard Signs Budget Bills, Building South Dakota Legislation
Gov. Dennis Daugaard today signed the budget bills, which revise the budget for Fiscal Year 2018, set the budget for Fiscal Year 2019, and provide ongoing increases for state employees, education, and Medicaid providers.

Governor Signs Additional Bills
In addition to the budget bills, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed the following bills into law today.


SD Ag Foundation Accepts $4 Million Challenge
On National Ag Day, the South Dakota Agricultural Foundation accepted a five-year challenge to raise four million dollars for future support of South Dakota’s agriculture industry.


Governor's Column: The Purpose of SD's Juvenile Justice System
It has been three years since we reformed South Dakota’s juvenile justice system. When the legislation was passed, South Dakota had the second highest juvenile incarceration rate in the country. It was nearly three times the national average. At the same time, our juvenile violent crime arrest rate was approximately one-third of the national average. We were locking up primarily non-violent juvenile offenders.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will attend and speak at the SD Ag Foundation’s Challenge Announcement Event which will be held at the POET Headquarters, 4515 N. Lewis Ave., Sioux Falls.


Governor's Column: 2018 Legislative Session Accomplishments
As I write this, the South Dakota State Legislature is concluding the main run of its legislative session. This has been a productive year in Pierre, and I think South Dakotans can be proud of what has been accomplished.

Gov. Daugaard Signs Open Waters Compromise Sunset Repeal And Other Bills Into Law
Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed House Bill 1081 today, repealing the sunset clause regarding the recreational use of nonmeandered water. Gov. Daugaard also signed the following bills:

Gov. Daugaard Orders Flags At Half-Staff To Honor Hal Wick
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is ordering flags to fly half-staff at the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 13, to honor the life of former state Rep. Hal Wick on the day of his funeral.

News Tips For March 10-16, 2018
News Tips For March 10-16, 2018


Gov. Daugaard Signs Bills Into Law
Gov. Daugaard signed the following bills into law this morning:


Gov. Daugaard Signs Bills Into Law
Gov. Daugaard signed the following bills into law this afternoon:


Gov. Daugaard Signs Bills Into Law
Gov. Daugaard signed the following bills into law this morning:


Gov. Daugaard Signs Bills Into Law
Gov. Daugaard signed the following bills into law this afternoon:


Governor's Column: South Dakota's Economic Development Wins
There are many things happening in our state that lead me to be hopeful about South Dakota’s future, especially in the realm of economic development. Overall, 2017 was a great year in terms of economic development wins. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development helped facilitate deals that total over $735 million in investment and are expected to create more than 1,400 new jobs.

News Tips For March 3 – March 9, 2018
Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s Public Commitments, Public Meetings


Gov. Daugaard Signs Bills Into Law
Gov. Daugaard signed the following bills into law this afternoon:

President Orders Flags At Half-Staff In Memory Of Reverend Billy Graham
President Donald Trump has called for flags at half-staff as a mark of respect for the memory of Reverend Billy Graham on Friday, March 2, the day of his interment.


Gov. Daugaard Signs Bills Into Law
Gov. Daugaard signed the following bills into law this morning:


Governor's Column: Good Reason To Be Hopeful
On Tuesday, February 13th, the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Appropriations adopted revenue projections for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 and FY2019 state budgets. Fortunately, since I offered my budget proposal in December, more recent months of revenue collections have been stronger. These months of improved revenue, coupled with the economic stimulus expected from federal tax cuts, portend better future revenue.

News Tips For Feb. 24 – March 2, 2018
Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s Public Commitments, Public Meetings


Gov. Daugaard Signs Bills Into Law
Gov. Daugaard signed the following bills into law this morning:


Gov. Daugaard Names David Knoff As First Circuit Judge
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he will appoint David Knoff of Yankton as a circuit judge in South Dakota’s First Judicial Circuit.


News Tips For Feb. 17 – Feb. 23, 2018
News Tips For Feb. 17– Feb. 23, 2018

Governor's Column: The Perseverance Of Our Largest Industry
Last year was another tough year for agriculture. After seeing a lack of moisture in the spring, we declared a statewide emergency in June. The drought persisted throughout the summer, and even today, as I write this, over 90 percent of the ground in the state is abnormally dry with almost 60 percent of the state in moderate to severe drought.


President Orders Flags At Half-Staff For Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Victims
President Donald Trump has called for flags at half-staff as a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the terrible act of violence perpetrated at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday, February 14.


Gov. Daugaard Signs Bills Into Law
Gov. Daugaard signed the following bills into law this afternoon:


Governor's Column: The Complex Issue Of Addiction
As a state, we grapple with many issues. Some are very complex, with no easy fix or single solution. These may require sustained effort over long periods, through different administrations and legislatures and generations of South Dakotans. Drug abuse is one such issue.

News Tips For Feb. 10 – Feb. 16, 2018
News Tips For Feb. 10 – Feb. 16, 2018


Gov. Daugaard Signs Bills Into Law
Gov. Daugaard signed the following bills into law this morning:

Gov. Daugaard Signs Water and Environment Fund Legislation
Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed House Bill 1098 today, which is a water and environment funding bill to appropriate dedicated funds for water, wastewater and solid waste projects. The bill is also commonly referred to as the Governor’s Omnibus Water Funding bill.

Governor Daugaard Signs Senate Bill 32
Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed Senate Bill 32, an act to place certain substances on the controlled substances schedule. SB 32 is an annual bill to update South Dakota’s controlled substances statutes to match federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) scheduling actions.


Gov. Daugaard Signs Bills Into Law
Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed the following bills into law this afternoon:

Gov. Daugaard Signs First Red Tape Bills Of Session
Governor Daugaard signed five "red tape" bills that aim to reduce excessive complexity throughout South Dakota's laws.


Governor's Column: Planting Trees Now
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” This old saying is a good description of how we have approached managing state government in the last seven years.

Temporary Licensure Compact Bill Introduced
Today, the House State Affairs Committee introduced House Bill 1319, Governor Daugaard’s bill to create a reciprocity compact to streamline professional licensure.

News Tips For Feb. 3 – Feb. 9, 2018
News Tips For Feb. 3 – Feb. 9, 2018


Gov. Daugaard Signs First Bill Of The Session
Gov. Dennis Daugaard this afternoon signed the first bill of the 2018 Legislative Session into law. The piece of legislation, House Bill 1057, authorizes the Board of Regents to contract for the construction of the Madison Cyber Labs (MadLabs) and the demolition of Lowry Hall at Dakota State University. The bill passed unanimously through the Joint Committee on Appropriations, the House of Representatives and the Senate.


Governor's Column: Improving Our Medicaid Program
South Dakotans believe in self-reliance. The pioneers who settled this state over a century ago, as well as the natives who preceded them, understood the need for self-reliance. In fact, they knew no other way. Those who came to Dakota sought freedom and a fresh start. They understood, though, that freedom requires responsibility, because they could only survive by taking care of themselves.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will hold a press conference at 12 p.m. CST on Friday, Feb. 2, in the Governor’s Large Conference Room on the second floor of the Capitol Building.


Microbrewery Bill Introduced
Today, the Senate Commerce Committee introduced Senate Bill 169, Governor Daugaard’s bill to modernize South Dakota’s alcohol laws concerning microbreweries.