Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - South Dakota is officially stepping away from managing its own industrial hemp program. Senate Bill 39, which has successfully navigated the state legislature and received final legislative approval this month, will shift the oversight of the state’s hemp growers to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

House Education Committee lawmakers in South Dakota decided on Monday to postpone a plan that would have limited student cell phone usage during school hours.  The decision came after critics argued that local districts already have established policies and should retain autonomy over the matter.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - In a narrow 8-7 vote on Wednesday morning, the House Education Committee moved forward with a controversial bill that would prohibit public school districts from using their resources to support teachers’ unions.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - A debate that has simmered since smartphones became ubiquitous in the early 2010s gained significant traction in the South Dakota State Capitol this week. A bill aimed at “unplugging” students during the school day, Senate Bill 198, has advanced to the Senate floor, underscoring growing tensions between student performance and the tradition of local school control.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - As the 101st South Dakota legislative session crossed its third-week milestone, the halls of the State Capitol were filled with spirited debate over healthcare funding, agricultural standards, and fiscal responsibility. With nearly 500 bills now introduced, lawmakers from Districts 4 and 5 are wrestling with significant policy shifts that could reshape the state’s rural landscape.

Northeast Radio SD News – South  Dakota - District 4 Representative Dylan Jordan (R-Watertown) is highlighting the second week of the 2026 Legislative Session, marked by the withdrawal of a fireworks-related bill and ongoing efforts to support agricultural education.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - As the second semester begins, Watertown School District officials are turning their attention to the South Dakota State Capitol, where a proposed freeze in K-12 funding has sparked concerns over the district’s future budget.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - As the 2026 South Dakota legislative session approaches, District 4 Representative Kent Roe is preparing to introduce a pair of bills aimed at modernizing the state’s technological infrastructure and enhancing consumer protections in the real estate sector. The session is scheduled to begin on January 13 with the Governor’s State of the State address at 1:00 PM.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota: South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced the first three components of a 10-bill legislative package for 2026, targeting drug use in state prisons, protecting minors from unregulated substances, and the rise of AI-generated pornography.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - The Comprehensive Property Tax Task Force has finalized a set of recommendations designed to deliver over $348 million in property tax relief to South Dakota homeowners, representing an estimated 25% cut. The plan, announced by Task Force Chair, Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr, and Vice Chair, Speaker of the House Jon Hansen, focuses on combining immediate homeowner relief with long-term fiscal reforms.