PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The biggest crop of new faces in more than a decade will raise their right hands to be sworn in as lawmakers on Tuesday when the South Dakota Legislature begins its 2025 regular session.
Representatives and senators will gather in their respective chambers at noon CT for their oaths. Then, at 1 p.m. CT, Governor Kristi Noem will deliver her seventh, and possibly, last State of the State address to a joint gathering of lawmakers in the House chamber.
Afterward, the Republican governor is scheduled to head to Washington, D.C., for a U.S. Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday morning. U.S. President-elect Trump has nominated Noem to be his homeland security secretary in the incoming administration.
Her office hasn’t announced yet when her resignation as governor will take effect. Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden would become governor for the final year-plus. Rhoden would then name a lieutenant governor, who would be subject to confirmation by the South Dakota Senate.
Noem’s speech on Tuesday could provide some of the succession details and serve as a goodbye to state office. She has never lost in two runs for the Legislature, four elections for the U.S. House and two races for governor.
Both of South Dakota’s legislative chambers will have new leadership teams this year. Republican Jon Hansen has been chosen by his caucus to be the new House speaker, while Republican Chris Karr has been selected by his caucus to the new Senate president pro tempore.
The new House majority leader is Republican Scott Odenbach, with Republican Marty Overweg as House majority assistant leader.
The new Senate majority leader is Republican Jim Mehlhaff. The Senate majority assistant leader is Republican Carl Perry.
The new Senate minority leader is Democrat Liz Larson, while the new House minority leader is Democrat Erin Healy.
There will be at least 32 new members in the 105-seat Legislature, with nine former legislators making comebacks as well. That’s the most first-timers since 2013, when there were 33.
It isn’t yet known who will be appointed by the governor to replace Republican Herman Otten. The 12-year lawmaker announced on Friday that he wouldn’t take the House seat he had won in November. Noem’s office announced on Monday that nominations needed to be received by January 24.
Assuming that the governor names a Republican as the replacement, the House will be split 64-6 in favor of Republicans.
Republicans also will continue holding control of the Senate, where they will outnumber Democrats 32-3.
The main run of the 2025 session is scheduled to wrap up Thursday, March 13. The final day is set for March 31 to consider any vetoes or other unfinished businesses.
As of mid-afternoon Monday, 117 pieces of legislation, known as bills, had been pre-filed. More will come in the next few weeks. The final day for an individual lawmaker to introduce a bill is February 5.
Spending discussions are likely to dominate the session. Last month Noem recommended a budget that was tight on revenue and would make a variety of cuts to existing programs, while raising licensing fees for many professions and calling for another state voucher program to help pay for K-12 students to attend alternative education.
On Wednesday, lawmakers gather at 10 a.m. CT in the House chamber for the annual State of the Judiciary message and return at 1 p.m. CT for the annual State of the Tribes message.
First-year lawmakers include:
Mykala Voita and
Lawmakers making comebacks after a break include:
Tim Goodwin, who last served in 2022.
Spencer Gosch, who last served in 2022.
Lana Greenfield, who last served in 2022.
Leslie Heinemann, who last served in 2018.
Taffy Howard, who last served in 2022.
Sam Marty, who last served in 2022.
Paul Miskimins, who last served in 2022.
Jamie Smith, who last served in 2022.
Keri Weems, who last served in 2008.
