Governor Noem Issues Proclamation for Special Session (And special session is ON.)

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Governor Noem Issues Proclamation for Special Session

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem issued a proclamation for a special session of the state legislature. The legislature will meet on Monday, October 5, 2020, with the purpose of considering legislation related to the use of federal stimulus relief funds, including the $1.25 billion allocated to South Dakota in Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF).

“South Dakota has used our federal CRF funds as intended to cover many costs related to COVID-19,” said Governor Noem. “We all have a shared mission: to make South Dakota stronger, safer, and healthier. I look forward to hearing the legislature’s recommendations of how we can accomplish that while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

Governor Noem first announced the special session on September 21, 2020. The session will take place from 10 a.m. until midnight on Monday, October 5, 2020. Governor Noem will address a joint session of the legislature from the chamber of the House of Representatives at 10 a.m. You can read the proclamation here and attached.

To learn more about South Dakota’s fight against COVID-19, visit COVID.sd.gov. 

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5 thoughts on “Governor Noem Issues Proclamation for Special Session (And special session is ON.)”

  1. It is interesting that the Governor is trying to limit the length of the special session to a period of 14 hours. Art. IV, Sec. 3, cl. 5 says “The Governor may convene the Legislature or either house thereof alone in special session by a proclamation stating the purposes of the session, and only business encompassed by such purposes shall be transacted.” So the Governor’s authority is only to “convene” and to “stat[e] the purposes.” She does not have authority to adjourn the Legislature. If Speaker Haugaard is going to try to stretch the session out, that is a risk the Governor takes when calling the session.

    1. The language is pretty vague. It is certainly arguable, but I can see how “convene” could mean deciding the length of meeting, not just the starting point. Such as, “The city council will convene for three hours next week.”

  2. I guess that legislator you heard from did not have his finger on the pulse of what is going on after all.

  3. Yowza that is a long day. And as stated above might not be the only day. Surely there will be the option to do this remotely given how close the Governor has been in the proximity of the President?

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