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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

Texting Ban Bill Is Given New Life

Lawmakers in Pierre are attempting to revive a texting and driving bill. A conference committee voted to kill the bill on Tuesday night. Many in Pierre thought the issue dead this session. Now both the South Dakota House and Senate agreed to appoint new members to a second conference committee in an attempt to resurrect a statewide texting while driving ban. Republican State Senator Mike Vehle says the House wants to negotiate on this issue.

"So I think they are going to hold it in good faith. And this is a second attempt and it’s too important not to try and take a second attempt," Senator Vehle says.

The two sides have debated the texting issue throughout the session. The House wants to make it a secondary offense, similar to the seat belt law, while the Senate wants to make it a primary offense. The reappointed conference committee is scheduled to meet Thursday in Pierre.

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.