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SDPB Radio Coverage of the South Dakota Legislature. See all coverage and find links to audio and video streams live from the Capitol at www.sdpb.org/statehouse

Lawmakers Kill Duplicate Pine Beetle Bill

The House Appropriations committee killed a bill that funds South Dakota’s fight against Pine Beetles. Lawmakers say the bill is duplicate legislation of a separate bill already passed. Larry Mann is a lobbyist with the Black Hills Forest Resource Association. He says SB 28 is also a funding request to fight the Black Hills Pine Beetles.

"I just wanted to reiterate to this committee my appreciation for your action earlier this week to amend Senate Bill 28. That now is the primary vehicle for mountain pine beetles and so Mr. Chairman, I respectfully request you table bill 135," Mann says.

Mann says all the attention for the pine beetle issue can now be focused to just one bill, rather than two. The House Appropriations committee agreed with the table request by defeating Senate Bill 135 unanimously.

Nate Wek is currently the sports content producer and sports and rec beat reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism Broadcasting and a minor in Leadership. From 2010-2013 Nate was the Director of Gameday Media for the Sioux Falls Storm (Indoor Football League) football team. He also spent 2012 and 2013 as the News and Sports Director of KSDJ Radio in Brookings, SD. Nate, his wife Sarah, and two kids Braxan and Jordy, live in Canton, SD.