How priorities of Noem’s final budget address have fared

SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — By the time former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem gave her budget address in December, she would have less than two months left in Pierre before becoming secretary of the federal Department of Homeland Security. But before she left, Noem shared priorities for the state.

“Last year during this speech, I asked you to make a permanent tax cut for the people of South Dakota,” Noem said during December’s budget address. “And I am reiterating that request to all of you today. Our people deserve better than a temporary sales tax holiday, and I look forward to that conversation during this legislative session.”

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In 2023, Noem signed legislation to drop the state’s sales tax rate from 4.5% to 4.2%. However, it is set to return to 4.5% in 2027. Senate Bill 214 during the ongoing legislative session would have kept the sales tax rate at 4.2%; in other words, it would have made the cut permanent. But lawmakers on the Senate Committee on Appropriations decided to table the bill on Jan. 20. Noem also sought to set up vouchers to put public money toward private education and homeschooling.

“I am proposing that we establish education savings accounts for South Dakota students in this upcoming legislative session,” Noem said in December.

The legislation to make that a reality also failed, with the House Education Committee killing HB 1020 on Jan 29. HB 1025 also failed; in its original form, it would have appropriated money to build a new men’s prison in Lincoln County.

“The current building is falling down,” Noem said in December. “It’s long past time for us to replace it for the safety of our people.”

But lawmakers gutted HB 1025 and eventually decided to not send it over to the Senate. Rhoden’s office announced Wednesday afternoon that he is going to “announce next steps for a new prison” Thursday morning.