SDPB devotes a team to coverage of the legislature in Pierre. Staff includes engineers, videographers, directors, reporters, and producers. Our team includes Jackie Hendry, Producer and Host of South Dakota Focus, and Lee Strubinger, Politics and Public Policy Reporter for SDPB News, who provide insight into what this time of the year means to them and why our coverage is vital.
Why is covering the legislature important?
Jackie: SDPB’s coverage of the legislative session is one of our most critical services to the citizens of South Dakota and anyone interested in the way laws are made here. Every public hearing in the process of making new laws is available online and floor debates air on TV. That public record is essential for an informed electorate. You’ve elected these people to represent you—now you can watch them at work. This record informs much of the coverage of session from us and other outlets, but anyone can go and listen to the entire proceedings for themselves. From start to finish, gavel-to-gavel, we livestream and archive the governmental process in South Dakota for audiences today and in the future. No one else in our state offers that service, and I’m proud to be a small part of that work by hosting December’s budget address and January’s inauguration and State of the State address.
Lee: What happens in the state legislature affects all South Dakotans. People need to know what is happening with their elected officials and why.
What benefits can South Dakota citizens realize by following our coverage?
Jackie: I understand why lots of people don’t engage directly with the legislative process—it’s a little confusing! Covering my first session as a new reporter a few years ago was a learning process. ‘What are the steps for a bill, again?’ ‘What does hoghouse mean?’ ‘What does it mean to send a bill to the 41st day?’ But understanding the process means citizens can play a more active role in the governmental process beyond election day. You can follow the process in real time and communicate with your legislators and even testify in bill hearings. Civic engagement is among the most patriotic things a person can do, in my opinion, and my colleagues and I at SDPB work hard to make that process as accessible as possible
Lee: Democracies require a well-informed public. I view SDPB’s role in covering the state legislature as vital to the American/South Dakotan experiment.
What are you looking forward to in the upcoming sessions?
Jackie: This is going to be an especially interesting session. I’m very interested to see what if any action is taken to address ongoing high rate of nursing home closures around our state. I’m also closely watching how the state adopts Medicaid expansion now that voters have made their voices heard on Amendment D. And of course, I’ll be watching for any adjustments to the state’s trigger law related to abortion in the wake of the overturn of Roe v. Wade and see how the legislature responds to Governor Noem’s intention to cut the grocery tax.
Lee: I’m keeping an eye on how Governor Kristi Noem gets her food sales tax cut passed in the legislature. The state is facing increased costs with infrastructure projects, a nursing home crisis and still remains 50th in teacher pay—to name a few. Others want to bring property tax relief. I’m also interested to see where the state’s abortion policy goes following the SCOTUS Dobbs decision. The list is by no means exhaustive and there is plenty in play for the upcoming session.
Anything else you would like to add?
Jackie: One of our college interns was helping me prepare to track the progress of bills this session. I walked him through my notes from last session, and he had many of the same procedural questions I had when I was new to covering the legislature. I’m exciting to create some bite-sized explanations for our social media spaces, along with info about other South Dakota session traditions, so our younger audiences can be as informed as possible.
Lee: Thank you for listening, reading, watching and for your support. Please reach out to me if there is something missing from our coverage.
Pierre in Your Palm
South Dakota Public Broadcasting offers comprehensive news about the 2023 legislative session and provides access on many platforms. This year we begin with the inauguration of Governor Kristi Noem for her second term in office. SDPB1 TV offers live coverage Saturday, Jan. 7 at noon Central (11 MT) and provides all the pomp of the Grand March from the Capitol Rotunda at 6:30pm Central (5:30 MT).
The 98th South Dakota Legislative Session gets underway Tuesday, January 10 at 1:00pm (noon MT) with the Governor’s State of the State Address – available live online, on SDPB1 TV and SDPB Radio. The address will repeat that night at 10:00pm (9 MT) on SDPB1 TV.
Online
All of SDPB's overage of the legislature is streamed online at SD.net, SDPB.org, and is available on the SDNet app. Monitor committees, follow legislation, and watch the general sessions on your device.
Coverage is also available on our SDPB News social media channels on Facebook and Twitter. Hashtag #SDLeg
SDPB TV
Coverage of the general sessions of the House and Senate are offered live each legislative day, beginning at approximately 1:00pm (noon MT).
SDPB2 World: Live coverage of the SD House of Representatives
SDPB3 Create: Live coverage of the SD Senate
South Dakota Focus: Join host Jackie Hendry Thursdays, January 26th, February 23rd, and March 30th at 8:00pm Central (7 MT).
Visit SDPB.org/tv/tv-schedules for specific days and times.
SDPB Radio
SDPB News covers the legislature. Listen for news reports from Lee Strubinger and our team of reporters during Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and throughout the day. In the Moment with Lori Walsh features discussions with lawmakers and South Dakotans about legislation. More at
SDPB.org/InTheMoment. SDPB Radio is also available by streaming at SDPB.org, on the app, or through your smart speaker.