PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Current and former lawmakers will be asked to a special gathering at the South Dakota Capitol next spring marking the 100th regular session of the Legislature.
The program in the rotunda on Saturday, April 12, will be followed by a reception and dance at the Pierre Ramkota Convention Centre that will be open as well to current and past legislative staff, lobbyists and family members.
The Legislature’s One Hundredth Session Planning Committee met Tuesday afternoon to talk in greater detail about what’s taking shape.
The Legislative Research Council will issue a news release about the April 12 events, with an RSVP link for confirmation of plans to attend. A letter about the events also will be sent to all current legislators that they can pass along to any former lawmakers they know.
Former Lt. Gov. Matt Michels, a past speaker of the House, will emcee the one-hour program at the Capitol. Former legislator Bernie Hunhoff of Yankton will read a verse he’s writing about the Legislature, and current Rep. Tony Venhuizen of Sioux Falls will give a short history of South Dakota’s law-making process. The program will also include remarks from others, and Governor Kristi Noem and Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden, both former legislators, will be invited to speak.
Prior to the afternoon program, a professional photographer will be at the Capitol and the images will be posted on a downloadable website that can be accessed by the public. The South Dakota National Guard band has agreed to play at the evening dance, Senator Jean Hunhoff of Yankton said.
LRC staff are working with South Dakota State Historical Society staff to assemble a searchable website of past and present legislators, using Blue Book summaries and the two-volume biographical directory published in 1989 for the statehood centennial.
State historian Ben Jones plans to select 10 articles about the Legislature from past South Dakota History journals and Terry Woster, who covered the Legislature during his decades at the Capitol as a news reporter, will write the book’s introduction.
LRC director John McCullough has identified seven documents that will bear the special 100th anniversary logo. The traditional Red Book of legislative rules distributed each year will have a special gold cover for the 2025 edition.
Venhuizen, who co-chairs the planning group, said that lobbyist Tim Dougherty of Sioux Falls has raised $61,000 so far that is in the historical society foundation’s account. The money will be used to pay for various costs, such as the photographer, the all-legislators directory and the new book.
The money also will cover the up-front expenses of special merchandise that will be sold, with those proceeds in turn helping pay for oral histories that will be commissioned. Items under consideration are leather portfolios, mugs, shirts, hats, pins, desk ornaments and commemorative coins.
Another $15,000 to $20,000 will need to be raised, based on rough estimates, Venhuizen said. The group also is considering seeking one or more donors to sponsor the bus transportation costs for school visits to the Capitol each of seven Wednesdays while lawmakers are in session next January through March.
A member of the group has been in contact with Spearfish artist Dick Termes to paint a Legislature-themed Termesphere that would be displayed in the Capitol and cost $27,000 to $35,000, depending on the ball’s size. Its cost would be covered by one or more special donors.
“This seems like a decent plan,” Venhuizen said as the group wound up the 90-minute meeting.
