THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO SDPB'S LIVE COVERAGE FROM THE 2021 STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS.

I'M JACKIE HENDRY, JOINING YOU FROM OUR STUDIO IN VERMILLION.

TO THE MARK THE FIRST DAY OF THE SESSION.

THIS IS GOVERNOR NOEM'S THIRD STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS.

THIS ONE OF COURSE FOLLOWS A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE FIRST COVID-19 CASES IN SOUTH DAKOTA ON MARCH 10TH, LAST YEAR, AT THE TAIL END OF THE 2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

COVID RECOVERY IS EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES FACING LAWMAKERS THIS YEAR AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU LIVE TO THE HOUSE CHAMBER AND THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN PIERRE.

DETERMINED THE COMMITTEE.

WELL, TODAY, IT'S MY DISTINCT HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AS THE POLITICIANS IN OTHER STATES WERE IMPLEMENTING ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL POLICIES, GOVERNOR NOEM TOOK SOUTH DAKOTA DOWN A UNIQUE PATH.

AND OUR STATE IS IN A TREMENDOUS POSITION AS A RESULT.

GOVERNOR NOEM HAS BUCKED THE STATUS QUO AND REJECTED DISASTROUS SHUTDOWNS.

INSTEAD, SHE CHOSE TO TRUST THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA TO MAKE SMART DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES.

AND SHE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMBASSADOR TO OUR STATE.

THANKS TO HER UNIQUE LEADERSHIP, COUNTLESS NEW FOLKS ARE MOVING TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND THEY'RE MOVING HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

THEY'RE MOVING HERE BECAUSE THEY VALUE THE WAY OF LIFE WE LIVE.

THEY APPRECIATE THE FREEDOMS AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY SHARE OUR SOUTH DAKOTA VALUES AND THEY WANT TO SHARE IN OUR WAY OF LIFE, AS WELL.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO ALL CORNERS OF OUR STATE ADD SOUTH DAKOTANS HAVE CONSISTENTLY ASKED ME TO THANK GOVERNOR NOEM FOR THE ACTIONS SHE HAS TAKEN.

TODAY SHE'LL SHARE WITH US HOW THESE ACTIONS HAVE PUT OUR STATE IN A STRONG POSITION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE ARE TREMENDOUSLY BLESSED TO HAVE HER LEADING US THROUGH THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO WORK ALONGSIDE HER TO CONTINUE MAKING SOUTH DAKOTA SAFER, STRONGER AND HEALTHIER.

SERGEANT AT ARMS, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL OF OUR GOVERNOR?

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... [OFF MIC, NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] >> KRISTI NOEM.

[Applause] [CONTINUED APPLAUSE >> THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD BE BE SEATED.

>> WELL, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RHODEN, Mr. SPEAKER, MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, CHIEF JUSTICE JENSEN, AND ALSO JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT, CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND FELLOW SOUTH DAKOTANS.

IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO DISCUSS THE STATE OF OUR STATE.

THE YEAR 2020 IS ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS.

WE FACED SOME INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

WE MET THIS ADVERSITY HEAD ON AND THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA DESERVE ALL OF THE CREDIT.

NOW, PEOPLE STRUGGLED, THEY LOST LOVED ONES AND THEIR LIVELIHOODS WERE THREATENED.

BUT THEY NEVER LOST HOPE.

THEY WERE RESILIENT.

THEIR FORTITUDE ENABLED US TO EMERGE FROM 2020 STRONGER AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A STATE.

NOW, LAST YEAR A GOOD PORTION OF THE SPEECH WAS DEDICATED TO EXPLAINING WHY SOUTH DAKOTA IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO WORK AND TO RUN A BUSINESS.

OUR PEOPLE, OUR WORK ETHIC AND THEIR VALUES ARE SECOND TO NONE.

NOW, ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM WHO WORK INFORMATION THEM RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OUR PEOPLE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES.

WE DON'T HAVE A CORPORATE INCOME TAX.

THERE IS NO BUSINESS INVENTORY TAX.

WE HAVE NO PERSONAL INCOME TAX, AND WE ALSO DO NOT HAVE A PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, OR AN INHER TANS TAX.

THE TAXES THAT WE DO HAVE FUND STATE GOVERNMENT AND THEY ARE STABLE AND THEY ARE PREDICTABLE.

IN SHORT, FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE WORRIED ABOUT TAX INCREASES, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE.

THE GOVERNANCE IN OUR SOUTH DAKOTA, WE LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.

WE BALANCE OUR BUDGET WITHOUT ACCOUNTING GIMMICKS OR TRICKS.

WE PROUDLY HOLD A TRIPLE A CREDIT RATING AND OUR STATE PENSION PLAN IS FULLY FUNDED.

OUR STATE BELIEVES IN SMART REGULATION, AND WE ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET, NOT THE RED TAPE.

WE ARE THE PHEASANT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AND OUR STATE PARKS -- YES, YOU CAN CLAP FOR THAT.

[Applause] >> AND OUR STATE PARKS AND OUR OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE UNMATCHED.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SPENT THE LAST NINE MONTHS SHUT DOWN OR LOCKED UP IN OTHER STATES, SOUTH DAKOTA IS OPEN.

WE HAVE STAYED OPEN THE ENTIRE TIME.

AND THAT IS HOW WE WILL OPERATE FOR AS LONG AS I AM GOVERNOR.

[Applause] NOW, ONE OF MY CHIEF PRIORITIES AS GOVERNOR IS TO GROW SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND THAT IS WHY YOU HEAR ME INVITING THOSE WHO CHERISH AND VALUE OUR WAY OF LIFE TO COME JOIN US.

SOUTH DAKOTA'S THE PERFECT PLACE TO COME RAISE YOUR FAMILY, TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AS YOU SEE FIT.

MY ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO HELP IN THIS EFFORT.

THIS LAST YEAR, WE ASSISTED WITH PROJECTS THAT WILL RESULT IN MORE THAN $2.8 BILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA.

PROJECTS RANGING FROM AGRICULTURE TO MANUFACTURING TO TECHNOLOGY.

WE ANNOUNCE THAT AMAZON IS BUILDING A $200 MILLION DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN SIOUX FALLS, BUT IT WASN'T JUST OUR LARGEST COMMUNITY THAT SAW THIS KIND OF SUCCESS.

TOWNS LIKE FORT PIERRE, BELLE FOURCHE, WATERTOWN, RAPID CITY, PARKER AND LEED ALL SAW COMPANIES CHOOSING AND GROWING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

IN TOTAL, THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON OVER THE PAST YEAR ARE EXPECTED TO RESULT IN MORE THAN 2100 NEW JOBS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND JUST YESTERDAY, WE ANNOUNCED THE LARGEST PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, A $500 MILLION INVESTMENT FROM SCHWANS, WHICH WILL BRING 600 FULL-TIME JOBS TO SIOUX FALLS.

NOW, CJ FOODS AND SCHWANS ARE BUMPED ENGINE A WORLD-CLASS FACILITY, THE MOST HIGH-TECH FACILITY OF ITS KIND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

THAT'S A GREAT STORE TO 2021 FOR OUR STATE.

[Applause] THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES TO GROW.

IT ALLOWS OUR KIDS TO START AND DEVELOP THEIR CAREERS HERE, AND WHEN THEY START HAIR FAMILIES, THAT WILL MEAN THAT THEY'RE CLOSER TO HOME, TO MOM, TO DAD, TO GRANDPARENTS AND TO EXTENDED FAMILY.

STRONG FAMILIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE BACKBONE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

NOW, PRESIDENT REAGAN ONCE SAID, OUR FAMILIES NURTURE, PRESERVE AND PASS ON TO EACH SUCCEEDING GENERATION THE VALUES THAT WE SHARE AND WE CHERISH.

VALUES THAT ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FREEDOMS.

TODAY MORE THAN EVER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE STRENGTHEN FAMILIES.

I AM COMMITTED TO BEING A FAMILY FIRST GOVERNOR.

FIGHTING TO STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY UNIT AND PRESERVE THE VALUES THAT SOUTH DAKOTANS HAVE ALWAYS LONG EMBRACED.

NOW, TODAY I'M JOINED BY TWO VERY SPECIAL FAMILIES THAT WILL HELP EXPLAIN WHAT ONE OF MY MAJOR PRIORITIES IS THIS SESSION, THE FIGHT FAMILY AND THE DUFFY FAMILY.

NOW, ERIN AND TAMI FIGHT LIVE IN PLATTE, SOUTH DAKOTA, WITH THEIR FOUR CHILDREN.

SEAN AND RACHEL DUFFY LIVE IN WISCONSIN.

THEY HAVE NINE CHILDREN AND YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT SEAN SERVED WITH ME WHILE I WAS IN CONGRESS.

I HAVE KNOWN BOTH FAMILIES FOR YEARS AND THE REASON THAT I ASKED THEM TO JOIN US TODAY IS TO HIGHLIGHT TWO OF THEIR CHILDREN.

NOW, CROWE' FIGHT AND VALENTINA DUFFY BOTH HAVE DOWN'S SYNDROME.

GOD BLESS THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN WITH AN ADDITIONAL CHROME ZONE.

THEIR GORGEOUS MILES, DISTINCT PERSONALITIES, THAT VIBRANCY THAT YOU SEE, THEY'RE ALL GIFTS FROM GOD.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING SOMEONE WITH DOWN SYNDROME, YOU KNOW THAT PERSON ENDS UP BEING A GIFT TO ALL OF US.

SO I SHARE THIS TODAY BECAUSE EVEN IN 2021, IN SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES LIKE ICELAND AN DENMARK, THEY'RE ON PACE TO VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE CHILDREN WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME.

THEY DO THIS ONE WAY AND THROUGH ONE WAY ONLY, THROUGH ABORTION.

AS ACTRESS PATRICIA HEATON POINTS OUT, ICELAND IS SIMPLY KILLING EVERYONE THAT HAS IT.

NOW, AS SOUTH DAKOTANS AND, FRANKLY, AS HUMAN BEINGS, WE SHOULD WILL BE APPALLED BY THIS.

WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SUMMARIZES WHAT WE ALL KNOW THIS OUR HEARTS TO BE TRUE, THAT GOD CREATED EACH OF US AND ENDOWED ALL OF US WITH THE RIGHT TO LIFE.

THIS IS TRUE FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING THOSE WITH AN EXTRA CHROMOSOME.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY... [Applause] APPLAUSE.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN THE SUPREME COURT RECOGNIZES THAT ALL PRE-BORN CHILDREN INHERENTLY POSSESS THE RIGHT TO LIFE, TOO.

UNTIL THAT TIME COMES, I AM ASKING THAT SOUTH DAKOTA AND THIS LEGISLATURE WILL PASS A LAW THAT BANS THE ABORTION OF A PRE-BORN CHILD JUST BECAUSE THAT CHILD IS DIAGNOSED WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME.

LET'S MAKE SOUTH DAKOTA... [Applause] LET'S MAKE SOUTH DAKOTA A SYMBOL OF HOPE AND JUSTICE AND LOVE FOR CHILDREN LIKE KODI AND VALENTINA.

WITH THE HELP OF SEVERAL PRO-LIFE GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE, MY TEAM WILL PRESENT LEGISLATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND SWIFT PASSAGE.

AARON AND TAMI AND SEAN AND RACHEL, WOULD YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES PLEASE STANDS FOR US TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A VOICE FOR MANY OF THOSE WHO CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

PROTECTING CHILDREN BEGINS IN THE WOMB BUILT CLIP OF ALL AGES NEED A LOVING FAMILY TO CARE FOR AND SUPPORT THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

IN MY FIRST STATE OF THE STATE, I STOOD AT THIS PODIUM AND ASKED PEOPLE TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS AND HOMES TO FOSTER CHILDREN.

I ASKED YOU TO CONSIDER GIVING A CHILD A FOREVER HOME.

IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, WE LICENSED A FIVE-YEAR HIGH OF 238 NEW FOSTER HOMES.

[Applause] I WANT TO COMMEND THOSE FAMILIES THAT HAVE OPENED UP THEIR HEARTS AND HOMES TO THESE CHILDREN AND LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY THIS WORK IS SO IMPORTANT.

OFTENTIMES, THESE KIDS JUST NEED A BRIDGE.

THEY NEED SOMEONE TO BELIEVE IN THEM.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT PROVIDING THAT BRIDGE.

TODAY I WANT TO RECOGNIZE A VERY SPECIAL FRIENDS OF MINE, JACK.

JACK IS RIGHT BACK HERE AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

WOULD YOU STAND UP, JACK, WHILE I TALK ABOUT YOU?

JACK BREWER, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW HIM, IS A FORMER N.F.L.

SAFETY.

TODAY HE IS AN ORDAINED MINISTER AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JACK BREUER FOUNDATION.

HE RUNS INTERCITY YOUTH PROGRAMS AND TEACHES IN PRISONS ALL ACROSS AMERICA.

HE'S AN ADVOCATE FOR STRONG FAMILIES AND HE HIGHLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HAVING A FATHER IN EVERY HOME.

NOW, JACK IS IN SOUTH DAKOTA THIS WEEK TO JOIN THE FIRST GENTLEMAN, TO JOIN BROKEN ON A COUPLE OF VISITS TO THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S PRISONS, AS WELL AS GOING TO THE BOYS' RANCH IN SIOUX FALLS.

JACK, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

ALL THAT YOU DO HERE AT... [INDISCERNIBLE] [ Applause ] I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT JACK CAN TEACH ALL OF US ABOUT BEING GOD'S HANDS TO PEOPLE WHO NEEDS IT.

AS I OUTLINED IN MY BUDGET ADDRESS, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE FAMILIES ARE NOT FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE MODERN ECONOMY ON THE ONE HAND AND THEN LIFE IN THEIR HOMETOWN IN THE OTHER.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING THAT WE INVEST IN FINISHING CONNECTING THIS STATE WITH BROADBAND.

EVEN THE MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE SHOULD BE PROVIDED THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE CONNECTED.

STRIVING COMMUNITIES FROM BORDER TO BORDER WILL YIELD MUCH BETTER RESULTS FROM THE STATE AND OUR FAMILIES RATHER THAN CONCENTRATED GROWTH IN TWO BIG CITIES.

THERE ARE STILL 135,000 SOUTH DAKOTANS WITHOUT HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND ACCESS THAT WE NEED TO MEET THOSE NEEDS IN THE 21st CENTURY.

A STATE INVESTMENT COUPLED WITH INDUSTRY FUNDING AND FEDERAL GRANTS IS ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE.

NOW, SUCCESS WOULD MEAN THAT OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND THAT FAMILIES WOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO STAY HOME TOGETHER.

TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE STORY OF JEFF ODEL.

JEFF WORKS FOR ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPUTER NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE COMPANIES IN THE WORLD.

HE GREW UP IN LEMON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

HE WENT TO JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL IN ABERDEEN, AND AFTER ATTENDING ONE YEAR OF COLLEGE AT THE SCHOOL OF MINES, JEFF LEFT AND MADE HIS WAY WEST.

FOR 20 YEARS, JEFF LIVED IN SUNNY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

BUT EVERY SUMMER FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, HE WOULD COME BACK TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

AT FIRST HIS TRIPS WERE JUST A WEEK OR TWO AT A TIME.

BUT THEN THEY STARTED TO GET LONGER.

IN APRIL OF 20189, JEFF STARTED BUILDING A HOME IN LEMON, AND WHEN COVID HIT, THANKS TO BROADBAND ACCESS, JEFF WAS ABLE TO MOVE BACK TO LEMON FULL TIME AND TO WORK REMOTELY.

MOST OF HIS WORK DAYS ARE SPENT ON VIDEOCONFERENCE CALLS BUT HE SAYS HE DOESN'T MIND AT ALL BECAUSE HE IS SURROUNDED BY OPEN SPACES, FRESH AIR AND GREAT PEOPLE.

HIS COUSINS AND THEIR KIDS LIVE IN LEMON AND HIS FOLKS AND SISTER ARE JUST THREE HOURS AWAY IN ABERDEEN WITH ANOTHER SISTER IN BISMARCK.

THEN THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER WOMAN WE TALKED TO WHOSE NAME IS STACY.

EVERY DAY SHE ENJOYS A VIEW OF THE MISSOURI RIVER AND WITH HER DOG BE HER SIDE, SHE WORKS REMOTELY.

ACCORDING TO STACY, HAVING A STRONG BROADBAND CONNECTION MEANS THAT SHE CAN WORK WHERE SHE WANTS TO LIVE INSTEAD OF LIVING WHERE SHE HAS TO WORK.

NOW, STORIES LIKE JEFF AND STACY'S ARE VERY COMMON IN SOUTH DAKOTA LATELY.

PEOPLE WITH BIG CITY SALARIES ARE MOVING TO SMALL-TOWN SOUTH DAKOTA.

THEY ENJOY THE LOWER COST OF LIVING AND THEY END UP SPENDING THEIR MONEY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THEY BELIEVE IN THE FREEDOM ALSO THAT SOUTH DAKOTA HAS TO OFFER.

MY OPEN IS THAT WEB -- MY HOPE IS WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO GET OUR STATE CONNECTED SO WE CAN SET UP THIS GENERATION AND THE NEXT FOR SUCCESS NO MATTER WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE.

NOW, SPEAKING OF WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, RESIDENTIAL HOME SALES ARE UP ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

AND HOME CONSTRUCTION IN SOUTH DAKOTA IS ESPECIALLY STRONG.

NEW HOMES CONSTRUCTION IN SOUTH DAKOTA IS MORE THAN 1.5 TIMES GREATER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

AND OVER THE PAST TEN MONTHS, CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT IN SOUTH DAKOTA IS UP 10% OVER A YEAR AGO.

NOW, AS I TOLD YOU ALL LAST MONTH, WE'RE IN A MUCH STRONGER FINANCIAL POSITION THAN OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

STATES THAT SHUT DOWN THEIR ECONOMIES ARE NOW LOOKING FOR TAX INCREASES OR DRASTIC SPENDING CUTS TO MAKE THEIR ENDS MEET.

WE MADE DIFFERENT CHOICES THAN VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER STATE OVER THE PAST YEAR.

AND TO BE FAIR, I NEVER ONCE THOUGHT THAT THE DECISIONS THAT WE WERE MAKING IN SOUTH DAKOTA DURING THE PANDEMIC WOULD BE UNIQUE.

BUT OTHER STATES BASED A LOT OF THEIR DECISIONS ON FEAR AND ON EMOTION, AND NOW THEY'RE SEEING THE RESULTS OF THAT.

IN SOUTH DAKOTA, WE DO NOT MAKE POLICY OUT OF FEAR.

WE PREPARE FOR THE WORST BUT WE ALWAYS REMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

WE CONTINUE TO GET GOOD NEWS ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA'S REVENUE SITUATION.

ONGOING GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE UP TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMPARED TO LATE -- IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

A SIMILAR STORY CAN BE FOUND IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

THE BLIZZARDS AND FLOODING OF 209 PREVENTED NEARLY 4 MILLION OF OUR 19 MILLION ACRES FROM BEING PLANTED.

THE RESULT WAS A 24% DECREASE IN CORN PRODUCTION AND 36% LOSS IN SOYBEANS FROM 2018.

BUT USDA IS FORECASTING THAT CORN PRODUCTION IS GOING TO GROW BY 31% FROM LAST YEAR WITH YIELDS ESTIMATED TO INCREASE TO RECORD HIGHS.

SOYBEANS ALSO HAD A BANNER YEAR, WITH OVERALL PRODUCTION FORECAST TO GROW TO 53%.

SO THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS BECAUSE OUR ALL CAN YOU GO ACTUAL INDUSTRY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

OUR FARMERS AND OUR PRODUCERS NOT ONLY FEED THEIR FAMILIES, THEY ALSO SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR OUR ECONOMY.

IN JULY, THE REFORMS THAT WE MADE TO STANDARDIZE AND STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING PROCESS TOOK PLACE.

THE RESULT IS A MORE COMPETITIVE AND ATTRACTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR AG BUSINESS.

TO DATE, I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WE HAD 23 NEW AG PROJECTS RESULTING IN MORE THAN 320 NEW JOBS ACROSS THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

BUT EVEN WITH ALL THIS GOOD NEWS, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BOLSTER OUR LARGEST INDUSTRY.

AND THAT'S WHY THE AG INVESTMENTS I PROPOSED IN MY BUDGET ADDRESS ARE SO CRUCIAL.

THE MEAT PROCESSING GRANTS, THE INVOLVEMENT IN THE DAKOTA EVENTS COMPLEX, THE CREATION OF A PROGRAM TO GIVE FARMERS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO MARKET SOUTH DAKOTA MEAT PRODUCTS AND THE MERGER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND [INDISCERNIBLE], EACH OF THESE ITEMS WILL HELP REINVIGORATE OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY AND THE FAMILIES ITS SERVES FOR IS SO MANY YEARS TO COME.

AND AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE YEAR AHEAD, I'M ALSO EXCITED TO REPORT TO YOU THAT THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FIGHT WITH COVID-19.

NOW, SOUTH DAKOTA IS LEADING THE NATION IN DISBURSING THE COVID VACCINE.

IN JUST OVER A MONTH, TENS OF HOUSE OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE.

NOW, THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THE TEAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ALL OF OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE DOING.

WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED.

OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS STEPPED UP IN ALL KIND OF UNFORESEEN WAYS IN 2020 AND THEIR STORIES DESERVE TO BE TOLD.

TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT HAS HAPPENED THE LAST MONTH OR SO IN WAGNER.

JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THE CEO OF WAGNER COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SHARED SOME REALLY OUTSTANDING NEWS ABOUT THE WORK THAT HIS TEAM HAS BEEN DOING.

THEY USED AN OUTPATIENT INNOVATIVE COVID-19 THERAPY TO TREAT PATIENTS, INCLUDING 30 RESIDENTS IN THE NURSING HOME.

IN TOTAL, MORE THAN 80 PATIENTS RANGING IN AGE FROM 50 TO 104 HAVE RECEIVED THIS TREATMENT WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE UP ANY HOSPITAL BEDS.

78 OF THOSE 80 PATIENTS HAVE RECOVERED.

NOW, IT'S...

YES.

THERE IS A SIMILAR STORY TAKING PLACE HERE IN P.. Dr. DARRELL PLUMAGE, NORMALLY WORKS AT THE CLINIC IN TOWN BUT WHEN COVID HIT, HE AND HIS TEAM TURNED THEIR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE CLINIC TO ACUTE COVERED CARE AND THAT INCLUDED THE ADVENTURE RAH PIERRE FACILITY.

EVERY SINGLE RESIDENTS IN THE FACILITY IS CONSIDERED HIGH RISK.

OF THE 53 RESIDENTS, 52 TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS.

AFTER A STAFFER UNKNOWINGLY BROUGHT IT INTO THE FACILITY.

BUT LIKE SO MANY OTHER LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, THE RESIDENTS WEREN'T THE ONLY ISSUE.

HALF OF THE STAFF TESTED POSITIVE, AS WELL.

NOW AT TIMES Dr. PLUMAGE AND HIS TEAM ENDED UP WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.

DURING ONE STRETCH, SOME STAFF WORKED 12-HOUR DAYS FOR 22 DAYS STRAIGHT.

DESPITE BEING UNDERSTAFFED AND OVERWORKED, THIS TEAM WAS DETERMINED TO HANDLE THE ACUTE CARE NEEDS OF THESE RESIDENTS, ADMITTING 52 PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL IN PIERRE WOULD HAVE OVERWHELMED THAT FACILITY.

SO Dr. PLUMAGE AND HIS TEAM TREATED THEM AT ADDVENTURE RAH.

THE EXPECTATION WAS THAT HALF THE RESIDENTS WOULD NOT SURVIVE.

THAT NUMBER ENDED UP BEING FAR LESS BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF Dr. PLUMAGE AND HIS TEAM.

70% OF THE ADVENTERA RESIDENTS RECOVERED FROM THE VIRUS.

>> NOW, THESE STORIES... [Applause] >> THESE STORIES ARE NOT UNIQUE TO PIERRE AND WAGNER.

WHAT THESE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS TO BATTLE THIS VIRUS IS NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE.

SO WITH US TODAY ARE THE WAGNER HOSPITAL CEO, BRIAN SLAVA IS UP HERE.

WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND.

Dr. PLUMB AGE IS HERE WITH SOME OF HIS TEAM MEMBERS, AS WELL, IF THEY WOULD ALL STAND.

WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF AFLAWS FOR ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS... [Applause] >> WHAT YOU DID, CAN WHAT YOUR TEAMS DID, WHAT ALL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS DID ACROSS THE STATE DESERVES RECOGNITION AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

WE ALSO MADE SURE THAT OUR APPROACH TOO CARING FOR SOUTH DAKOTANS WAS HOLISTIC, THAT WE FOCUSED ON PHYSICAL WELL-BEING BUT ALSO ON MENTAL HEALTH.

IN FEBRUARY, 2020, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WORKED WITH SEVERAL OTHER GROUPS TO FOCUS ON SUICIDE PREVENTION THIS YEAR.

OUR 605 STRONG INITIATIVE CONNECTED SOUTH DAKOTANS FIGHTING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITH TRAINED CRISIS COUNSELORS.

THIS INITIATIVE PROVED CRITICAL IN THE FACE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

IN 2020, WE HAVE SEEN OUR SUICIDES DECLINE.

NOW, ANOTHER TOOL... ANOTHER TOOL THAT WE GREATLY EXPANDED ACCESS TO IS TELEHEALTH.

SINCE MARCH, PEOPLE HAVE USED TEXT SERVICES LIKE THESE MORE THAN 70,000 TIMES IN SOUTH DAKOTA'S MEDICAID PROGRAM ALONG.

THIS YEAR I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO MAKE THESE FLEXIBILITIES PERMANENT.

NOTHING 2021, WE SHOULD BUILD ON TELEHEALTH ADVANCEMENTS AND CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO REMOVE GOVERNMENT RED TAPE IN HEALTH CARE.

AND LASTLY ON HEALTH CARE, I WANT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE STATE'S WORK TO CURTAIL SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

WE KNOW THAT DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE CAN DESTROY A FAMILY AND EVEN THOUGH THIS KIND OF CHALLENGE CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE, IT REALLY IS HAPPENING A LOT IN KEY AREAS OF OUR STATE, INCLUDING OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE THIRD ANNUAL STATE TRIBAL METH SUMMIT WAS HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRIBAL RELATIONS AND DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

THESE SUMMITS ARE A BEDROCK IN BRINGING STATE AND TRIBAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AROUND LEADERS TOGETHER.

THE STATE STANDS READY TO WORK WITH OUR TRIBES IN ALL SOUTH DAKOTA COMMUNITIES TO COMBAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

AND AS WE LOOK TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF EVERY SOUTH DAKOTAN, RECREATION IS A KEY PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

THIS LAST YEAR, SOCIAL DISTANCING CREATED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR SOUTH DAKOTANS TO GET OUTSIDE.

NATURE AND THE OUTDOORS PROVIDED OUR FAMILIES AN ESCAPE FROM THE PANDEMIC.

BECAUSE SOUTH DAKOTANS AND OUR STATE REMAINED OPEN AND WE DIDN'T LOCK DOWN, MORE AMERICANS FROM OUT OF STATE CAME TO ENJOY OUR NATURAL PLACES, TOO.

WE HAD ROUGHLY 8 MILLION VISITORS OUR STATE PARKS WHICH WAS AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 30% FROM 2019.

CUSTER STATE PARK IS YOUR PASSED 2 MILLION VISITS THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

WE SAW INCREASES IN YOUTH AND FIRST-TIME HUNTERS.

WE ALSO SOLD A RECORD NUMBER OF LICENSES FOR THOSE TO MENTOR IN HUNTING.

WE SAW HUGE INCREASES IN YOUTH COMBO LICENSES AS WELL AS RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS FISHING LICENSES.

SO GETTING OUR YOUTH TO PUT DOWN THESE X BOX AND TO PICK UP THE TACKLE BOX HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF LINE FOR MANY YEARS.

IN MARCH... [Applause] IN MARCH, WE HAD A YOUNG LADY NAMED SUZANNA HENDRICKS WHO IS A JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT FROM VIVIAN WHO HAD A GREAT IDEA, AND SHE'S HERE WITH US TODAY, IF SHE WOULD STAND.

WITH A GOAL OF GETTING OUT IN THE FIELD MORE WITH HER FAMILY, SUZANNA PETITIONED THE GAME AND PARKS FIGURES TO EXTEND THE YOUTH PHEASANT SEASON FROM FIVE TO 9 DAYS.

THE COMMISSION ADOPTED HER PROPOSAL.

IT IS MY HOPE THAT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE SUZANNA WILL GET INVOLVED.

THEY'LL FIND NEW WAYS TO SECURE SOUTH DAKOTA'S OUTDOOR HERITAGE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

SO SAVANNAH, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DID TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR YOUTH IN GETTING THEM OUTSIDE.

IT'S MY HOPE THAT YOU AND YOUR STORY WILL SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE TO ALL SOUTH DAKOTANS TO GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY MAKING.

THANK YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO CREATE MORE HUNTING AND FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STATE FOR THOSE THAT ARE YOUNG AND OLD.

THIS YEAR, I'M ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT SIMPLER LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

THE GOAL IS TO GET MORE PEOPLE ENGAGED AT AN EARLY AGE SO THEY CONTINUE THOSE EXPERIENCES LONG INTO THEIR ADULTHOOD.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HAVE SO HEAVILY EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BOUNTY PROGRAM.

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, NEARLY 4300 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE NEST PREDATOR BOUNTY PROGRAM, MANY BEING YOUTH AND FIRST-TIME TRAPPERS.

THEY HAVE REMOVED ROUGHLY 81,000 NEST PREDATORS.

THAT'S A GREAT THING FOR OUR PHEASANT NUMBERS, AND WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.

ANECDOTALLY, EVERYTHING WE HAVE HEARD THIS YEAR IS THAT THE PHEASANT NUMBERS ARE THROUGH THE ROOF.

LONG-TIME HUNTERS SAY THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN AS MANY ROOSTERS AS THEY DID THIS YEAR, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR OUR STATE, OUR FUTURE AND TO CONTINUE TO GET FOLKS TO COME HERE, VISIT AND HELP US KILL OUR STATE BIRD.

[Laughter] NOW HUNTERS ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO COME TO OUR STATE THIS YEAR.

AS I MENTIONED, THIS WAS A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR TOURISM BUT SOUTH DAKOTA HAS OUT-PERFORMED ALMOST EVERY SINGLE OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY IN THIS CATEGORY.

OUR VISITOR INQUIRIES HAVE SKYROCKETED AND ONE THING IS CLEAR, FOLKS FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WANT TO VISIT SOUTH DAKOTA.

IN 2021, WE ARE GOING TO BUILD ON THIS MOMENTUM.

WE ARE GOING TO END SHARE THAT WE CONTINUE TO GROW.

OUR TOURISM DEPARTMENT WILL BE WORKING ON THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN TO GUIDE US OVERALL EFFORTS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HUGE AMOUNT OF INTEREST THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED.

THIS INCLUDES ENHANCING OUR PROMOTION OF THE STATE IN NEW MARKETS, AND ESPECIALLY TARGETING KEY DEMOGRAPHICS THAT HAVE AN INTEREST IN OUR PARKS, OUR HISTORY, OUR CULTURE AND OUR GREAT OUTDOORS.

GIVEN THAT THREE OF OUR STATE'S RODEOS WERE RECENTLY CHOSEN AS THE VERY BEST IN THE COUNTRY BY THE NATIONAL FINALS RODEO AND THE PRCA, WE WILL ALSO BE IMPROVING OUR FACILITIES FOR HOSTING EQUESTRIAN AND RODEO EVENTS.

WE KNOW THAT OUR STATE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE BEST PLACE IN THE COUNTRY FOR SOME OF THESE EVENTS AND WE WANT TO CAPITOL ICE ON THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

THESE COMPLEMENTS THE DEPARTMENT'S ONGOING WORK WITH AGRI TOURFUL AND THE FIRST GENTLEMEN'S SMALL TOWN INITIATIVE TO GET VISITORS OFFER THE BEATEN PATH WILL EXPERIENCE ALL THAT SOUTH DAKOTA HAS TO OFFER.

OUR TOURISM DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO MAKE STEADY PROGRESS WORKING WITH TRIBAL PARTNERS AROUND THE STATE.

THEY LAY THE GROUNDWORK TO ENHANCE TRIBAL TOURISM ON OUR RESERVATIONS, AND EVERY VISITOR THAT WE WELCOME TO OUR STATE HAS AN IMPACT THAT RESONATES.

THEIR VISITS HELP SUPPORT GOOD JOBS, LIFELONG CAREERS FOR SOUTH DAKOTANS.

THEIR SPENDING BENEFITS ARE SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE TAX REVENUE THEY GENERATE GOES RIGHT BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT HENS KEEP THIS STATE THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN AMERICA.

[Applause] ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS OUR TOURISM NUMBERS HAVE BEEN SO STRONG THIS YEAR IS THE RESILIENCE OF OUR PEOPLE AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

THE SOUTH DAKOTANS WHO RUN THESE SMALL BUSINESSES INSPIRE ALL OF US AND OUR BUSINESSES WILL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF SUCCESS IF SOUTH DAKOTA STUDENTS HAVE EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM KNOWS THAT A GOOD EDUCATION STARTS IN THE HOME.

IT STARTS WITH STRONG FAMILIES.

WE HAVE DECADES OF RESEARCH THAT SHOWS US THAT FAMILIES ARE THE MOST CRITICAL INFLUENCE ON THE CHILD'S SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM.

COVID-19 UNDERSCORED JUST HOW INVOLVED PARENTS NEED TO BE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S DAY-TO-DAY EDUCATION.

IT'S OUR DUTY TO FIND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT EMPOWER PARENTS TO SET UP THEIR CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS.

THIS INCLUDES IMPROVING CIVIC EDUCATION FOR OUR KIDS.

STUDENTS SHOULD BE TAUGHT OUR NATION'S HISTORY AND ALL THAT MAKES AMERICA UNIQUE.

[Applause] THEY SHOULD SEE FIRSTHAND THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND THEY SHOULD HAVE ROBUST DISCUSSION IN THE CLASSROOM SO THEY CAN DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS.

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED MORE EXPERIENCE ENGAGING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PRACTICING THE ART OF THE DEBATE.

IT IS ALSO OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOW THEM HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS AND HERE'S HOW.

I HAVE TASKED MY ADMINISTRATION WITH CREATING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND RESOURCES ON AMERICA'S FOUNDING, OUR NATION'S HISTORY AND THE STATE'S HISTORY.

WE MUST ALSO DO A BETTER JOB EDUCATING TEACHERS ON THESE THREE SUBJECTS, THROUGH ALL OF THIS, OUR COMMON MISSION AND KEY OBJECTIVE NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINING WHY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS THE MOST SPECIAL NATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

[Applause] WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL BUILDING BLOCK, EVERY SOUTH DAKOTA KRAHN CAN CHART THEIR OWN PATH TO THEIR FUTURE.

OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGES, OUR UNIVERSITIES, ALL OF OUR HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES GIVE THEM AN EXCELLENT CHANCE.

NOW, SOUTH DAKOTA'S TECHNICAL COLLEGES HAVE RECEIVED NATIONAL AWARDS, ATTENTION AND FUNDING FOR THE HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT THEY OFFER IN KEY GROWING INDUSTRIES.

ALL FOUR OF OUR TECH SCHOOLS ARE IN THE TOP 4% OF THE COUNTRY FOR UPWARD MOBILITY.

STUDENTS WHO GRADUATE FROM OUR COLLEGES ARE FULLY EQUIPPED FOR HIGH-DEMAND TECHNICAL CAREERS THE MOMENT THAT THEY RECEIVE THEIR DIPLOMAS.

A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED VANESSA IS A STUDENT IN THE LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM AT SOUTHEAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

SHE IS A FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT AND AN INCREDIBLY HARD I WORKER.

VANESSA IS SET TO GRADUATE THIS SPRING AND ALREADY HAS A JOB LINED UP HERE IN THE STATE.

OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGES ARE FULL OF STORIES LIKE VANESSA'S.

SOUTH DAKOTA IS INVESTING IN OUR STUDENTS TO EXPAND THESE OPPORTUNITIES MOVING FORWARD.

LAST WEEK WE MADE AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THE BUILD DAKOTA CENSORSHIP SCHOLARSHIP.

TOGETHER OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE WILL INVEST APPROXIMATELY 40 MILLION TO TRAIN STUDENTS FOR HIGH-DEMAND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.

WE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE SECRETION OF THE PREMIER SCHOLARSHIP, A NEEDSBASE SCHOLARSHIP FOR OUR STATE.

DENNY AND THE PREMIER CENTER HAVE ALREADY DELIVERED A CHECK FOR 50 MILLION AND HAVE PLEDGED ANOTHER FIFTY -- I HAVE PLEDGED ANOTHER 50 MILLION GOING FORWARD.

I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS AND THEY WILL MATCH IT WITH ANOTHER 50 IN THE FUTURE.

THIS WAS ONE-TIME MONEY THAT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIONAL IN A GIFT TO NEEDS-BASED STUDENTS TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR EDUCATIONS.

THE PREMIER SCHOLARSHIP REQUIRES THE STUDENT LIVES AND WORK IN SOUTH DAKOTA FOR THREE YEARS AFTER GRADUATION.

OTHERWISE THE SCHOLARSHIP TURNS INTO A LOAN.

THE ENDOWMENT FOR THIS CRITICAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND NEEDS 200 MILLION TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING INTO THE FUTURE.

DENNY AND PREMIER ARE GETTING US HALFWAY THERE.

YOUR ACTION WILL GET THE FUND TO 150 MILLION AND TOGETHER WE CAN GET THIS DONE.

[Applause] IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM ALSO LAUNCHED THE SOUTH DAKOTA UPSCALE PROGRAM THIS FALL.

THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS WORKERS DISLOCATED BY COVID-19.

UPSCALE CONSISTS OF 223 ONLINE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS IN HIGH DEMAND FIELDS, INCLUDING BUSINESS, HEALTH CARE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURING.

MORE THAN 100 INDIVIDUALS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS ASSISTANCE.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT REMAINS A TOP CONCERN FOR SOUTH DAKOTA COMPANIES AND SOME BUSINESSES ARE TACKLING THIS CONCERN BY BUILDING THEIR OWN REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

IN FACT, 44 ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BUILT REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS SINCE 2018.

MORE THAN 700 SOUTH DAKOTANS ARE IMPROVING THEIR SKILLS THROUGH ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN HOUR ON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS BUILT A HOME HEALTH AID REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

THE STRUCTURED TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP IMPROVED THEIR TEAM MORALE AND THEIR CONFIDENCE.

IT LED TO LESS THAN 1% TURNOVER AND IT ALLOWED FOR A 20% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HOME HEALTH AIDS THAT WERE ON STAFF.

WHILE REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS ARE JUST ONE SOLUTION TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, IT LAYS A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR A FUTURE WORKFORCE AND FOR OUR STATE ECONOMY.

AND NOW I WANT TO TURN TO A SUBJECT THAT WE ALL HOLDER TO OUR HEARTS.

IT IS OUR VETERANS AND OUR MILITARY.

[Applause] THIS YEAR, SOUTH DAKOTA WAS RANKED NUMBER ONE STATE IN AMERICA FOR VETERANS TO LIVE AND TO WORK.

[Applause] WE HAVE EXPANDED THE TUITION PROGRAM FOR VETERANS TO INCLUDE TECHNICAL COLLEGES.

WE'VE INCREASED PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES.

WE HAVE A TAX EXEMPTION FOR PARAPLEGIC AND AMPUTEE VETERANS.

WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF BEDS AT THE HOT SPRINGS VETERANS LONELY SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF MORE VETERANS.

WE ALSO BROKE GROUND ON THE FIRST EVER STATE VETERAN CEMETERY IN SIOUX FALLS.

THESE VETERANS ARE SPECIAL MEMBERS OF OUR STATE AND THEY'RE LIKE FAMILY TO SO MANY OF US IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A STORY TO ILLUSTRATE THIS POINT.

JERRY UPSAL IS A VETERAN WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.

TODAY SHE IS A SISSETON WAP TAN OYATE TRIBAL SERVES OFFICER AND WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

ITS HER LOVE OF COUNTRY THAT GUIDED HER DOWN THE PATH OF SERVING OUR HEROS.

NOW, JERI HAS A SINCERE DRIVE AND PASSION TO CIVET VETERANS.

SHE WAS AARE THE WASSED THE SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTREACH OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD AND JERI IS WITH US TODAY.

WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING HER FOR HER SERVICE TO OUR NATION AND ALL THE VETERANS ACROSS OUR STATE.

[Applause] [Applause] THE FOLKS SERVING AT ELSE WORTH AIR FORCE BASE ALSO DESERVE OUR RECOGNITION.

WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY AIRMAN FIRST CLASS EMILY CAMPOS.

WOULD YOU STAND?

SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BOX ELDER, SHE AND HER SIX SIBLINGS WERE RAISED A A SINGLE WORKING MOM.

AFTER GRADUATING, SHE JOINED THE AIR FORCE AND BECAME A RADIOLOGY TECH.

SHE WAS NAMED DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE OF HER CLASS.

SHE THEN COMPLETED SPECIALIZED RADIOLOGY TRAINING AT THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY, WHERE SHE WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE TENTH SURGICAL SQUADRON COMMANDER FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

SHE RELOCATED TO ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE IN AUGUST.

IN HER ROLE, SHE SERVES THE BASE'S 17,000 ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL, MILITARY DEPENDENTS AND RETIREE BENEFICIARY POPULATION.

SHE ALSO VOLUNTEERED TO HELP WITH THE BASE'S COVID RESPONSE TRAINING.

HER EFFORTS DIRECTSLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROTECTION OF MILITARY PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF TWO BOMBER TASK FORCE MISSIONS TO THE INDO PACIFIC THEATER.

EMILY, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS RECOGNIZE YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND THE EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF YOUR FELLOW AIRMEN AND AIRWOMEN.

OUR STATE IS INCREDIBLE REGRATEFUL FOR YOUR WORK, OUR WORK AND ALL OF YOUR SERVES TO OUR NATION.

THE WORK THAT EMILY AND ALL THOSE DO, ALL THOSE WHO SERVE AT ELSE WORTH AIR FORCE BASE IS SO CRUCIAL TO OUR NATIONAL DEFERENCE.

THIS YEAR IN MY BUDGET I ASK YOU TO FUND THE LIBERTY WELLNESS CENTER PROJECT.

I HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT IT FOR ELLSWORTH AND FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

NOW, LAST YEAR WE STARTED THE GOVERNOR'S HEROISM AWARD TO HONOR HEROS WHO RISK THEIR LIVES TO SAVE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU NOW ABOUT THIS YEAR'S HONOREE.

JOINING US TODAY IS THE FAMILY OF CHIEF DEPUTY LEE WEBBER OF THE HUGHES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF DEPUTY WEBER HAD SERVED IN THE DEPARTMENT SINCE 2015.

BEFORE THAT, HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY SOON AFTER 9/11 AND COMPLETED TWO TOURS TO THE MIDDLE EAST IN SERVES TO OUR GREAT COUNTRY.

HE WAS ACTIVE IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, HE LOVED HUNTING AND FISHING, WATCHING FOOTBALL AND SPENDING TIME WITH HIS WIFE, WENDY AND THEIR SIX CHILDREN WHO HE LOVED DEEPLY.

THIS PAST JULY 3rd, LEE WAS BOATING WITH HIS FAMILY ON THE MISSOURI RIVER.

HIS SON FELL OUT OF THE BOAT WITH NO LIFE VEST ON.

AND WITHOUT HESITATION, LEE DOVE INTO THE WATER TO SAVE HIS SON.

AND WHILE HE WAS ABLE TO GET TO HIS SON SAFELY, LEE WAS NOT ABLE TO SAVE HIMSELF.

HE DIED A HERO THAT DAY.

SO WE MOURN THE LOSS OF THIS GREAT MAN AND WE HONOR LEE FOR HIS COURAGE, HIS SACRIFICE AND HIS SELFLESS COMMITMENT TO YOU AND TO YOUR FAMILY.

I WANT TO EXTEND MY PRAYERS AND MY CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND TO YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY.

THE FAMILY IS SITTING RIGHT UP HERE AND WENDY IF YOU AND THE FAMILY DON'T MIND STANDING... TODAY GIVEN LEE'S SELF-LESS COURAGE AND SACRIFICE, I AM AWARDING THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR HEROISM TO YOUR HUSBAND, CHIEF DEPUTY LEE WEBBER.

THANK YOU.

[Applause] STRENGTHENING FAMILIES NO MATTER WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE IS A KEY ELEMENT TO EVERY DECISION THAT I MAKE AS GOVERNOR.

AND I AM COMMITTED TO KEEPING FAMILY AT THE CENTER OF MY POLICY DECISIONS.

THE FAMILY IS THE CRADLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY.

STRONG FAMILIES CREATE STRONG COMMUNITIES.

STRONG COMMUNITIES WILL PRODUCE THE STRONGEST STATE IN THE NATION.

THIS SESSION I HOPE YOU ALL WILL JOIN ME IN STANDING UP FOR FAMILIES.

LAST YEAR WE FOUND SO MANY WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAINTAIN THE FREEDOMS OF OUR PEOPLE, TO PROMOTE OUR OUTDOOR HERITAGE, TO REIN IN THE EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT AND OUR DAILY LIVES.

THIS YEAR IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE WILL FIND EVEN MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER.

ADVANCING COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT WE CAN SOLVE ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT STATE.

BEFORE I CLOSE, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY FAMILY, BRIAN AND CASSIDY AND KYLE ARE BACK THERE TODAY, KENNEDY AND BOOKER ARE AT SCHOOL BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SACRIFICE AND YOUR ENERGY.

PEOPLE WHO KNOW OUR FAMILY KNOW THAT WE DO THIS JOB TOGETHER.

EVERY CHALLENGING TIME THEY WALK ALONGSIDE ME, THEY SUPPORT ME AND MY DECISIONS.

BECAUSE OF THEM AND THEIR SUPPORT FOR ME IN DOING THIS JOB AND SERVING SOUTH DAKOTA TOGETHER, WE ARE HOPING THAT EVERY DECISION WE MAKE WILL MAKE SOUTH DAKOTA A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, TO DO BUSINESS, TO RAISE A FAMILY.

ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT ALL OF THESE IS I WANT THOSE THINGS FOR MY FAMILY AND FOR EVERY OTHER FAMILY, AND I KNOW THAT'S WHY ALL OF YOU SERVE, AS WELL.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU AND WITH ALL OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S LEADERS TO IMPROVE OUR STATE FOR TODAY AND FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

[Applause] >> THAT CLOSES GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM'S THIRD STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

A LOT OF TOPICS COVERED OUTLINING SOME OF HER PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE FIRST SHE MENTIONED ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO COME UP WITH A BAN ON ABORTIONS, SPECIFICALLY FOR -- SPECIFICALLY BASED ON, EXCUSE ME, A DIAGNOSIS OF DOWN'S SYNDROME.

THE FIRST PRIORITY MENTIONED ALSO A LOT OF OTHERS DISCUSSED COMPLETING THE BROADBAND FUN FUNDING STATEWIDE PERMANENT ACTIVITIES FOR TELEHEALTH AFTER WATCHING THE BENEFITS OF THOSE DURING THE PANDEMIC, A SIMPLER LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR HUNTING AND FISHING FOR PEOPLE UNDER AGE 18.

ALSO INTERESTING, THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED HER ADMISSION TO CRAFT CIVIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM AND CLASSROOM AIDS TO DEAL WITH THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY AND THINGS LIKE THIS.

IT'S A LITTLE UNCLEAR BASED JUST ON THE SPEECH IF THERE IS A LEGISLATIVE ANGLE, SOME BILL THAT WILL BE INTRODUCED OR IF THAT CURRICULUM IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED AND HEARD MAINLY IN STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MIGHTINGS, THAT BOARD NEXT MEETS ON THE 19th SO WE'LL CONTINUE COVERAGE ON THAT AS WE FIND OUT MORE DETAILS.

BUT A LENGTHY SPEECH WITH A LOT OF PRIORITIES, DISCUSSION OF RECOVERY FROM COVID-19, HOW CERTAIN HOSPITALS RESPONDED TO THAT.

NOT A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT REMAINING FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELATED TO COVID-19 AID, SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S STATE-OF-THE-STATE SPEECH.

WE'RE WAITING TO JOIN SDPB'S POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY REPORTER, LEE STROBING GEAR.

HE'S ROUNDING UP HIS LINE-UP OF GUESTS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

WE'LL HEAR FROM LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP FROM BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE TO GET SOME OF THEIR REACTIONS TO THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES.

YOU CAN CONTINUE FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER, YOU CAN FIND US AT SDPB NEWS WITH LIVE TWEETS OF THE ADDRESS IF YOU'RE JUST NOW JOINING US.

YOU CAN FIND A NICE LINE-UP OF THE SUMMARY THERE.

YOU CAN ALSO WATCH OUR ONGOING COVERAGE ONLINE, SDPB.ORG/STATEHOUSE.

WE'LL BE HAVING A ROUND-UP OF NEWSCAST MATERIAL FROM OUR STATE OF THE STATE COVERAGE TODAY, LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN ON SDPB RADIO FOR SOME OF THOSE STORIES AS WELL AS.

WE'RE GOING TO TOSS LIFE NOW TO LEE STRUBINGER WITH HIS FIRST GUEST.

LEE, TAKE IT AWAY.

A DEMOCRAT FROM MISSION, REPRESENTING DISTRICT 26.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS TODAY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THERE WERE SOME THINGS IN THE STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS THAT WE CAN AGREE WITH.

OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT WE WON'T.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO GET WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AND SEE WHERE EVERYTHING LANDS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT DEMOCRATS MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH THAT WAS OUTLINED TODAY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MERGER BETWEEN THE ARGHH AND DENR.

I'M NOT SOLD ON THAT IDEA YET.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF HER OTHER LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THAT SHE BROUGHT UP AND, YOU KNOW, SEE IF THEY MEET OUR PRIORITIES AND THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S.

>> ONE OF THOSE PRIORITIES THAT SHE'S TALKED ABOUT TODAY AND ALSO DURING THE BUDGET ADDRESS WAS THE $100 MILLION BROADBAND EXPANSION.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT DEMOCRATS ARE BEHIND?

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT AND BROADBAND IS GOING TO BE KEY IN ALL CORNERS OF THE STATE.

I HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED TO HER ADMINISTRATION THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE SOME WORK DONE WITH TRIBAL COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COVERING EVERYBODY IN THE STATE AND THEN REALLY ALLOWING THAT ACCESS, WHETHER THAT'S EDUCATIONAL ACCESS, BUSINESS ACCESS TO WORK FOR EVERYONE.

>> DO YOU PLAN ON BRINGING THE CHARTER SCHOOL BILL THIS YEAR AND WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THIS TIME AROUND?

>> SO THE COMMUNITY-BASED SCHOOL WILL BE -- THAT LEGISLATION WILL BE COMING BACK.

YOU KNOW, I HOPE WE HAVE THE SAME RESULT IN THE SENATE.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS AN EDUCATION PIECE TO THAT BILL THAT NEEDS WORK DONE OR WITH OUR HOUSE COLLEAGUES SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT'S TRYING TO DO SO, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPEFUL FOR THE LEGISLATION AND I'LL BE WORKING WITH NUMEROUS PEOPLE TO TRY TO GET THAT PASSED.

>> DID YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOME OTHER PRIORITIES THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE AND THINGS THAT YOU AGREED WITH THAT THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED.

>> YOU KNOW, AS A CAUCUS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ENORMOUS EXPENSE THAT FAMILIES ARE GOING TO INCUR FROM LOVED ONES WITH COVID AND I DIDN'T HEAR THAT IN HER SPEECH AT ALL.

THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, WE SURELY DON'T WANT TO BREAK OR BANKRUPT FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY CONTRACTED A DISEASE, SO WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THAT.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR ON ARE THE -- THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, THE NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIP.

WE HAVE BROUGHT THAT LEGISLATION FOR YEARS AND WE HOPE IT FINALLY GETS SOME SUPPORT AND PASSAGE.

>> SENATOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU, LEE.

>> BACK TO YOU, JACKIE.

>> THANKS, LEE.

WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU ONCE YOU GET YOUR NEXT GUEST FOR US.

SO IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, LEE STRUBINGER JUST SPOKE WITH LEE BEHIND TROY HEINERT, DEMOCRATS, VERY FEW MEMBERS, LOST A FEW MORE SEATS IN THE MOST RECENT ELECTION TO THE POINT WHERE NOT EVERY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE WILL HAVE DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION, SO SPEAKING TO SOME OF THOSE POINTS, AGREEMENT, DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES.

SENATOR HEINERT NOT SOLD ON THE MERGER BETWEEN AG AND THE DOESN'T OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, DOES SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS AND IT SOUNDS LIKE LEE DOES HAVE OUR NEXT GUEST, SO, LEE, I'LL LET YOU TAKE IT FROM HERE.

>> STANDING HERE WITH REPRESENTATIVE KENT PETERSON, HE'S THE NEW MAJORITY LEADER HERE IN THE HOUSE REPRESENTING DISTRICT 19, FROM SAY LEDGE, SOUTH DAKOTA.

REPRESENTATIVE, WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH TODAY?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY STRONG.

SHE LAID OUT A GREAT PLAN FOR TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE AND FAMILIES AND SO MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE'VE THE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND I THOUGHT SHE DID A GREAT JOB.

>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU AND SORT OF MAYBE WAREHOUSE REPUBLICANS SIT ON THE BROADBAND -- MAYBE SORT OF WHERE HOUSE REPUBLICANS SIT ON THE BROADBAND ISSUE.

$100 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THAT IN THE PAST.

AS WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY -- NOT CAUTIOUS BUT LOOK STRONGLY AT THAT AGAIN.

BROADBAND CAN ALLOW PEOPLE TO WORK FROM WHEREVER THEY WANT AND I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT BUT WE CAN TAKE A CAUCUS LOOK TAKE THE THAT AND HOPEFULLY COME OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

>> OBVIOUSLY WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR TODAY AND DURING THE BUDGET ADDRESS, WHAT ARE SOME HOUSE PROBLEM PRIORITIES ON THE SESSION?

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, TAKING CARE OF FAMILIES, A LOT OF THINGS SHE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING ON THOSE AS WE GET GOING IN SESSION BUT WE'RE OFF TO A GREAT START.

>> DURING HER SPEECH, SHE HAD MENTIONED THAT HER ADMINISTRATION WILL BE WORKING WITH SOME PRO-LIFE GROUPS TO END -- TO BAN ABORTION ON PRE-BORN CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME.

SOUTH DAKOTA IS ONE OF THE MORE STRICTER STATES IN THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO ABORTION LAW.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS LEGISLATION AND WHAT IT WILL -- HOW IT WILL IMPACT THE STATE.

>> I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.

I THINK OUR HOUSE CAUCUS IS LOOKING FORWARD TO LOOKING AT THAT LEGISLATION AND MAKING THAT BECOME LAW IN SOUTH DAKOTA, PROTECTING THE LIFE OF THE PRE-BORN, NO MATTER WHAT CONDITIONS ARE COMING WITH THAT AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT DISCUSSION.

>> SHE ALSO MENTIONED SOME CURRICULUM THAT HER ADMINISTRATION MIGHT BE ROLLING OUT TO SEND TO SCHOOLS, MORE CIVICS-BASED EDUCATION.

SHE HAS BROUGHT THAT UP BEFORE.

DO YOU THINK THIS YEAR WILL BE THE YEAR FOR THAT AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WILL LOOK LIKE?

>> YEAH, UN, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE LEGISLATION YET BUT I HAVE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, TALKING IN THE SPEECH TODAY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE TOOK A RUN AT IT A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND AS SHE SAID, IT WASN'T QUITE RIGHT AND I HOPE THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN REALLY TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT AND GET IT IMPLEMENTED.

I THINK CIVICS AND THE HISTORY OF NOT ONLY THE "U" BUT THE HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA IS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S TAUGHT IN THE CORRECT WAY.

>> ONE MORE CORRECTION FOR YOU.

ONE OF THE BIG STORY LINES THIS SESSION IS GOING TO BE THE SURPLUS AND THAT ALWAYS ENDS UP GETTING DEBATED UP UNTIL LITERALLY THE LAST HOUR OF SESSION.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT KIND OF PLAYING OUT THIS YEAR?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR LAID OUT HER BUDGET REQUEST A MONTH AGO AND IT'S GOING TO COME RIGHT DOWN TO IT, I THINK.

THERE'S LOTS OF IDEAS FLOATING OUT THERE, OBVIOUSLY SHE HAS HER SIDES, IDEAS, THE HOUSE WILL HAVE THEIR IDEAS AND THE SENATE WILL HAVE THEIRS.

THEY'RE WORKED ON ALL SESSION AND THEN FINALIZED THE LAST WEEK.

I SEE THIS AS NO DIFFER.

WE'VE SEEN LOTS OF PEOPLE LOOKING TO USE THESE ONE-TIME DOLLARS AND OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO FIND THINGS THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE AND CREATE TO MAKE THINGS LAST FOR THE FUTURE AND I THINK WE'LL TRY TO DO THAT AS BEST WE CAN.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> BACK TO YOU, JACKIE.

>> THANKS, LEE.

IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, LEE WAS JUST TALKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE KENT PETERSON, THE NEW MAJORITY LEADER IN THE SOUTH DAKOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, REPRESENTING -- FROM SALEM.

SUPPORTING GOVERNOR NOEM'S STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS, CALLING IT A STRONG MESSAGE AND A GREAT PLAN WITH ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT HE AGREES WITH, STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BAN ON ABORTIONS BASED ON A DOWN SYNDROME DIAGNOSIS, BELIEVES THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM PUSHING THAT THROUGH, ESPECIALLY IN HIS CAUCUS.

NOT SEEING THE LEGISLATION YET AS IT RIVERS TO THAT CIVICS EDUCATION CURRICULUM, WE'LL REMEMBER A COUPLE YEARS AGO IN THE STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS, STRONG SUPPORT, A STANDING OVATION FROM LAWMAKERS RELATED TO CIVICS EDUCATION FOR SOUTH DAKOTA STUDENTS AND THAT MESSAGE ULTIMATELY FELL BY THE WAYSIDE, NOTHING PASSED THIS THAT PARTICULAR YEAR SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW LAWMAKERS RESPOND THIS YEAR, ASSUMING A BILL IS BROUGHT TO COMMITTEES.

ALSO DISCUSSION OF THE SURPLUS, EVERY YEAR SEEMS TO BE A SURPLUS, EVERYONE HOPING FOR A FEW MORE DOLLARS IN THEIR DIRECTION.

REPRESENTATIVE KENT PETERSON SAYING GOING TO BE MUCH THE SAME THIS YEAR COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE ON MAKING SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS.

I'M GOING TO TAKES IT BACK TO YOU, LEE, NOW, WHO'S YOUR NEXT GUEST?

>> SO POINT-WE'RE READY TO GO.

>> STANDING HERE WITH REPRESENTATIVE ERIN HEAL LEE, A DEMOCRAT FROM SIOUX FALLS, REPRESENTING DISTRICT 14.

DEMOCRATIC WHIP.

REPRESENTATIVE HEELEE, WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH TODAY?

>> YEAH, IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

WHAT I REALLY WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED HEARING MORE ABOUT IS THE COVID EFFORTS THAT OUR STATE NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS AS WE KNOW, MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR?

>> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THE VACCINATIONS AND HOW WE ARE LEADING THE NATION IN DISBURSING COVID VACCINE.

THIS IS IMPORTANT CONSIDERING THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST-FIND ONE OF THE HIGHEST COVID RATES AND ALSO DEATHS RATES IN THE NATION, BUT IT WOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN REALLY NICE TO HEAR ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO LISTEN MORE TO OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

THE STRENGTH OF BEING ABLE TO DISBURSE THE COVID VACCINATION IS BECAUSE OF OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND I WISH WE WOULD HAVE LISTENED TO THEM WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING WAYS THAT WE COULD MITIGATE EFFORTS AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND HAVE A LOT OF PREVENTABLE DEATHS IN OUR STATE.

>> DO DEMOCRATS HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO PUSH IN TERMS OF HOW TO FURTHER ADDRESS THIS PANDEMIC?

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO WAYS AS TO HOW WE CAN MITIGATE EFFORT -- HOW WE CAN CREATE MITIGATION EFFORTS.

I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE HEALTH AND THE PROS EXPERT AND THE SAFETY OF ALL SOUTH DAKOTANS LIVING HERE IN OUR GREAT STATE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT AS DEMOCRAT WHO SITS ON HOUSE EDUCATION WAS ABOUT HER CIVICS EDUCATION PROPOSAL THAT SHE THE BROUGHT UP AGAIN.

SHE BROUGHT IT UP BEFORE, IT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT THROUGH, BUILT WHAT DO YOU MAKE IT OF HER SORT OF RECEIVE, PROPOSAL?

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

IT'S SO HARD TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT ALL ENTAILS WITHOUT SEEING A BILL IN FRONT OF US.

I WILL WORK WITH HER IF IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD BILL THAT WILL TEACH OUR KIDS HOW TO, YOU KNOW, PROPERLY HAVE HIM A GOOD POSITION IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND HOW CAN WE HAVE KIDS UNDERSTAND FACTS AND DATA AND SOLID INFORMATION IS VITAL TO A GOOD AND HEALTHY DEMOCRACY.

>> ANOTHER THING THAT NOEM BROUGHT UP DURING HER SPEECH TODAY WAS A -- SHE WANT HER ADMINISTRATION TO WORK WITH SEVERAL PRO LIFE GROUPS TO BAN ABORTION FOR PRE-BORN CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME.

COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR REACTION TO THAT PROPOSAL?

>> YEAH, WELL, TO ME IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT LIKE A DIVERSION AWAY FROM THE TOPIC OF COVID.

IF WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE SANCTITY OF LIFE, I THINK WE NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME DISCUSSING COVID AND MITIGATION EFFORTS AND HOW WE CAN PREVENT MANY DEATHS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, REPRESENTATIVE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

JACKIE, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, LEE.

IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, LEE STRUBINGER WRAPPING UP WITH REPRESENTATIVE ERIN HEELEE A DEMOCRAT FROM THE SIOUX FALLS AREA REACTING TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS.

ALSO COMMENTING AS ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE REACTING TO THE GOVERNOR'S PUSH FOR STRONGER CIVICS EDUCATION, SAYING IT'S HARD TO REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT INCLUDES AND HOW TO REACT TO IT WITHOUT HAVING A BILL IN FRONT OF HER, THOUGH SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO SEEING THAT.

THAT'S GOING TO WRAP UP OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS.

TOMORROW YOU CAN CATCH THE STATE OF THE JUDICIARY, THE FIRST FOR THE STATE SUPREME COURT NEW CHIEF JUSTICE, STEPHEN JENSEN AND ON THURSDAY YOU'LL WATCH THE STATE OF TRIBES ADDRESS.

WE'VE NOT SEEN YET WHO'S SET TO DELIVER THAT PARTICULAR SPEECH.

YOU CAN WATCH BOTH OF THOSE LIVE ONLINE AT SD.NET.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND MORE COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ONLINE AT SDPB.ORG/STATEHOUSE.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT SDPB NEWS AND WITH THE #SDLEG.

COMING UP NEXT THURSDAY, YOU CAN JOIN ME LIVE AT 8:00 CENTRAL, SEVEN KINDERGARTEN MOUNTAIN ON SDPB TV FOR THIS YEAR'S STATEHOUSE EDITION OF "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US HERE AT SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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