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House strikes down bill changing legislator travel rules

A bill made to place limitations on legislative member’s out-of-state travel went down in flames in the South Dakota House of Representatives.

The bill was drafted based on concerns of non-returning state legislators traveling to legislative meetings at the state’s expense.

It sought to give the legislature's executive board the final say on out-of-state legislative travel.

The bill received unanimous approval in the Senate. However, House lawmakers voted it down 60 to eight on Wednesday.

Legislative out-of-state travel will continue to be approved by the President Pro Tempore and the Speaker of the House.

Evan Walton is an SDPB reporter based in Sioux Falls. Evan holds a Master’s in English Literature from Southern New Hampshire University and was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 2015, where he served for five years as an infantryman.