Gov. Kristi Noem uses State of the State address to tout 'Freedom Works Here' mantra (full transcript)

Noem's speech kicks off the 99th state legislative session

(Austin Goss/The Dakota Scout)

The theme of a nationwide workforce recruitment campaign being used by Gov. Kristi Noem to draw new residents to South Dakota also served as inspiration for her annual State of the State address to lawmakers Tuesday at the state Capitol.

In her sixth annual address since taking office in 2019, the Republican kicked off South Dakota’s 99th Legislative Session with a speech meant to highlight Noem’s “Top Ten List of things we are doing here in South Dakota to ensure that Freedom Works Here.”

Read the full transcript of Noem’s State of the State address below and stay with TheDakotaScout.com Tuesday afternoon for more coverage of the governor’s remarks.

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GOV. KRISTI NOEM:

Lieutenant Governor Rhoden, Mr. Speaker, members of the House and Senate, Chief Justice Jensen, Supreme Court justices, constitutional officers, and my fellow South Dakotans:

My job today is to give you a report on the state of our state. Our State Constitution requires me to appear before you and deliver this speech, but it gives little guidance on how long the speech should be or what snacks may be served. Therefore, I plan to take some liberties. I will give you a thorough report, hopefully succinctly, and you will find snacks provided at your desk because, well, I like to eat. You may find these snacks to be reflective of this body – a bit salty, sometimes sweet, and may be a nut or two. Enjoy,  and let’s get started.

First, we have with us several members of the South Dakota National Guard. Would you and any veterans in attendance today please stand and be recognized for your service to our state and nation?

Speaking of great South Dakotans, how ‘bout them Jackrabbits? Back-to-back champs! GO JACKS!

We are in a different time than we were just five short years ago. We used to talk about what we believe as conservatives and the importance of limited government, low taxes, American values, and personal responsibility. But then challenging times hit our state, our country, and our world. And we had to decide just how conservative we really were going to be here in South Dakota. Were we just going to talk about limited government and Freedom, or fight for it – defend it? Even when it wasn’t the popular thing to do, we stood strong on the Constitution and our state’s motto: “Under God the People Rule.”

South Dakota is doing better than every other state in the nation because we have embraced conservative principles. I’ve often called our state small, more like a pilot project for conservative reforms to prove if they really do work. And we have proven that they do. Our people are thriving, our economy is growing, and the state has never been in a more stable fiscal situation. We have cut taxes, created jobs, and maximized opportunities. We have also learned that there is a trick to keeping that momentum going. We have learned that we have to tell our story in order to succeed. We can govern conservatively, but we also need to keep our foot on the gas. South Dakota’s success is unprecedented. And we have a limited window of time where the eyes of the entire nation are on our state. We cannot miss the opportunity to capitalize on that.

South Dakota has proven that conservative policies help families thrive. We have shown the world that Freedom Works Here. And we’re just getting started.

During my Second Inaugural Address last year, I gave a “Top Ten List” of things that surprised me about being Governor. Well, I think it’s time for another such list. I can’t possibly cover today for all of you all of the wonderful things that we are doing in our state. But I can hit the highlights. So today, I am proud to present my Top Ten List of things we are doing here in South Dakota to ensure that Freedom Works Here.

#10 Freedom to Keep and Bear Arms

We protect our Second Amendment rights. Constitutional Carry was the very first bill that I signed into law. Two years ago, you all worked with me to make our state the first in the nation to waive all fees for concealed carry permits. We even pay for people’s federal background checks. It doesn’t cost South Dakotans a penny to exercise their 2^nd Amendment rights. And last year, I signed an Executive Order which says that the State will not do business with any financial institution who infringes on people’s 2^nd Amendment Rights.

We have been able to market our state as a 2^nd Amendment haven. My Office of Economic Development is actively working to recruit firearms businesses from states that infringe on the 2^nd Amendment to move here. Last year, California became the first state in America to levy a special tax on guns and ammunition, and we immediately invited California gun manufacturers to move here to South Dakota.