FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 11, 2023

Contact: Ian Fury

Gov. Noem Signs EO Guarding Against Conflicts of Interest

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Noem signed Executive Order 2023-13 to guard against conflicts of interest in state government.

“The legislature is responsible for enforcing their own constitutional requirements and conflict of interest rules,” said Governor Noem. “However, state agencies can do some quality control, and that is what this Executive Order accomplishes.”

Article 3, Section 12 of the South Dakota Constitution prohibits state legislators from being interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract with the state or any county during their terms in office and for one year after.

This Executive Order requires each state agency, authority, bureau, board, commission, department, or institution of the State of South Dakota that is controlled by the governor to incorporate an acknowledgement and certification into any contract for the signor to state that the contract does not violate Article 3, Section 12.

The Executive Order also encourages entities outside of the Governor’s oversight, including the judicial branch, the legislative branch, other constitutional offices, boards or authorities operating independent of executive oversight, and county governments to review their processes and procedures to ensure their contracts are executed in accordance with Article 3, Section 12.

###