Gov. Noem’s vetoes survive

South Dakota governor gets her way on cryptocurrency, booze, teacher assaults and hemp

PIERRE — Gov. Kristi Noem can claim a sweep on Veto Day.

The Republican governor this year might have struggled to get some of her top initiatives through the South Dakota Legislature, but the state’s 98th lawmaking session ended with a series of wins for Noem.

The Legislature Monday at the state Capitol failed to advance four pieces of legislation that had made it to the governor’s desk before being vetoed.

And while the bills that dealt with banking regulations, underage taste-testing of alcohol, penalties for assaults on teachers and hemp production initially earned passage in both the state House and Senate, none found the two-thirds support needed to become law without Noem’s signature.

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All four measures failed to make it out of the legislative chamber where they originated on Veto Day.

Teacher assaults

Coming closest to passage was Senate Bill 129, Sen. Jim Stalzer’s measure that sought to increase the criminal penalty for assaulting school personnel to a felony.