LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – LOOKING BACK & AHEAD
by State Sen. Glen Vilhauer

The South Dakota Legislature Joint Committee on Appropriations met recently to get a financial update on the State’s financial situation. Two main items were on the agenda-one looking back and the other looking forward.

The state’s fiscal year ended on June 30th and reflected a surplus of $69 million. This resulted from revenues being $30M than estimated and expenditures being $39M less than budgeted. Sales tax growth of 6.6% for the year was the main driver of the revenue increase. Unspent funds of $32M by the Department of Social Services accounted for the largest component of the expenditure side of the equation. While significant, this surplus deviates only about 2.5% from the overall budget for the year. It is a budget that is mandated to be balanced and is also prepared 15-16 months ahead of time. I would like to compliment the staffs of the Bureau of Finance and Management (BFM) and the Legislative Research Council (LRC) for guiding the legislature throughout the budgeting process and bringing us across the finish line so close to actual. I have been asked recently on a number of occasions as to what happens to this surplus? This excess will remain as part of the state’s general fund reserves to be used as the need arises for possible future expenditures. A couple recent examples is the funding of the new prison currently under construction and a recent transfer of $56M to jump start the property tax reduction brought about the decision to allow the sales tax rate to revert back to 4.5% starting next July 1st. Without these reserves the state would not be able to take advantage of options deemed necessary by the governor and legislature.

Now that the 2026 fiscal year is behind us we turned our attention to the 2027 year which ends on June 30th of next year. As mentioned before, the state is required to operate on a balanced budget, and this was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor late during the recent legislative session. The revenue forecast adopted would require an overall 1.5% increase in revenue with a needed sales tax increase of 3.0%-3.5% to accomplish this. Again, the numbers utilized for this forecast were projected 15-16 months ahead of some months of the new year. We need to keep our fingers crossed that the strong performance that we have experienced since the beginning of this calendar year carries over in future months. BFM and LRC staff will be closely monitoring this as the year unfolds and will keep the governor and legislature updated on a regular basis.

A few other items that were brought to our attention and briefly reviewed:

• The State maintained its AAA credit rating as determined by a couple of the key credit rating agencies. This is critical if the state needs to borrow money and also benefits counties, cities and schools if a borrowing need arises.
• The South Dakota Retirement System also finished a strong year with earnings on its investments of 11.9% while remaining 100% actuarially funded. This remains one of the strongest public retirement systems in the country for the benefit of the 100,000+ members covered.
• Per capita spending as measured by the general and other funds activity is $1,200 lower than any of the other states in our surrounding area.

In general, this reflects a state that is on solid financial footing and is being well managed by those involved in its operations. This includes multiple audits on various aspects of state finances. We heard a lot of rhetoric throughout the recent primary election cycle about the financial status and operations of our state finances. It was reassuring to hear from those that are closest to the numbers that the sky is not falling and that our citizens’ dollars are being spent prudently. Many states cannot say that. We can!!!

(no, really. I don’t think this is a joke – pp)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Luke Blindert Announces Bid to Serve as Toby Doeden’s Lieutenant Governor

Sioux Falls, SD — July 26, 2026 — Luke Blindert today announced his intention to serve as Republican gubernatorial candidate Toby Doeden’s choice for Lieutenant Governor, saying South Dakota Republicans deserve a leadership team that is prepared to lead boldly and decisively. With Representative Jon Hansen choosing not to join Toby Doeden’s ticket, Blindert said he is stepping forward to fill that role.

Blindert said he believes Republican voters deserve a running mate who is willing to make a decision, stand beside Doeden, and publicly commit to the race instead of remaining on the sidelines while others speculate about what comes next.

“You know what I think of this whole thing?” Blindert said. Blindert said he is prepared to serve as Lieutenant Governor if selected by Doeden and believes the Republican ticket should be settled so voters can focus on choosing the next governor of South Dakota.

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Building a Legacy
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
July 24, 2026

Since the day I took office, I have challenged everyone in my administration to focus on keeping South Dakota strong, safe, and free. If we all link arms and pledge to chase opportunities together, our state will remain an example to the nation. And if years from now, someone remembers the work we accomplished together, then that’s just a bonus. Ultimately, it comes down to building a strong future for our kids and grandkids – that’s the legacy we’re building.

The passing of someone like T. Denny Sanford causes me to pause and think about what it means to build a legacy. T. Denny was the greatest philanthropist in South Dakota history. His contributions will impact our state for decades – maybe centuries. If you know of a student that has benefited from the Build Dakota Scholarship or Freedom Scholarship, or perhaps know someone that has been helped by Children’s Home Society, or someone who has benefited from access to high quality healthcare in our rural state; then you have experienced a piece of Denny’s impact on the quality of life of South Dakota.

We are called to serve each other. The list of goodwill that Mr. Sanford has spread is difficult to inventory in just a few words. But ultimately, when he saw a need, he stepped in to make a difference. This shows his heart of service. Whether it is millions of dollars, hours of our time, or use of our best talents, we don’t do these things to be remembered. We do them because they are right.

When I think about the people that have left a good legacy, it is easy to see a commonality of a passion to leave this earth better than they found it. They also share an understanding of the reward for a willingness to slow down. They never confuse motion with progress. Instead, they remain focused on the long game. It can be difficult to move methodically while the “idea fairies” are flitting around in circles, but discipline is a must.

When I look back at my time in public service, all the way back to serving in the National Guard, there are moments that rise higher in my memory. But none of the moments on the list matter without hard work and integrity. And integrity is measured, in part, by the people who surround us. I’ve been credited with many successes, but oftentimes the people around me deserve the credit. The day I was sworn in as Governor, I thanked our people for this privilege, my wife, Sandy, for her loyal support, and the Good Lord for guiding my mind and my heart. I still feel this gratitude every day as I serve as Governor of the great state of South Dakota.

Whether in basic training camp, an evening school board meeting, hours in the House and Senate Chambers in Pierre, or traveling the state as Governor to understand what South Dakota needs, I know this to be true: the opportunity of our state is not limited by my vision, or even the vision of any one person – not even T. Denny Sanford. Our opportunity is as broad as the South Dakota prairie and as high as the Black Hills. If we work hard and put others first, things tend to work out. If we do the job with integrity, it will stick with people. If we are creating value that outlasts a lifetime, that’s when we have the honor to build a legacy.

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Public Service, Not Personal Gain
by Congressman Dusty Johnson

BIG Update

Members of Congress should not be allowed to buy and sell individual stocks. Insider trading is already illegal, and some Members have spent time in prison for it. We should go further, though, banning members from making stock transactions that are legal for other citizens. It looks lousy for a Member of Congress to trade stocks in advance of congressional action, even when based on publicly-available information.

The Stop Insider Trading Act passed the House this week with my support. This bill prohibits Members, their spouse, and dependent children from buying individual stocks while in office and implements an advanced notice requirement for any Member looking to sell already-held stocks. I’ve been among those leading the charge to pass this commonsense legislation through the House.

BIG Idea

Prediction markets have been around for centuries, adapting to the demands of the marketplace and emerging technologies. As chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development, I held a hearing this week to examine whether our current guardrails are keeping up with the times.

Tens of billions of dollars in transactions are taking place in this space every month. Sports-related prediction markets have grown exponentially in the past few decades. I’m looking forward to continuing the committee’s work as we examine the unique nature of these markets and the federal government’s role in their regulation.

Click here or the image above to watch Johnson’s remarks

BIG News

Every year, Congress must pass the annual defense bill or National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This year’s NDAA passed the House with my support to ensure our military is ready to meet the modern challenges of today and tomorrow. The bill includes full funding for the Ellsworth B-21 Raider strategic bomber program, provides our servicemembers with a 5-7% pay raise, and strengthens our role in countering China’s threat.

The bill also secures our supply chain and expands our production capacity so our troops will have what they need when they need it – and not rely on China. A strong United States military means a safer country and safer world. I was proud to support this legislation to keep Americans secure for generations to come.

Attorney General Jackley Releases 2028 Draft Ballot Explanation Allowing Exceptions for Direct Sale of Homemade Dairy Products

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has released a draft ballot explanation for a proposed initiated measure that would allow exceptions for the direct sale of homemade dairy products. The measure is proposed by Brenda Anderson of Custer.

The initiated measure would require 17,509 valid petition signatures to qualify for the 2028 general election ballot. The draft explanation can be found here:

Attorney General Jackley takes no position on any such proposal. He has provided a fair and neutral explanation on the proposed initiated measure to help assist the voters.

This proposed initiated measure would allow dairy producers to sell homemade, raw dairy products directly to consumers. Under this proposal, raw dairy products would be exempt from state laws on licensing, permitting, inspecting, testing, and state packing and label requirements.

State law requires the Attorney General to draft a title and explanation for each initiated measure, initiated constitutional amendment, constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, or referred measure that may appear on an election ballot. The Attorney General’s explanation is meant to be an “objective, clear, and simple summary” intended to “educate the voters of the purpose and effect of the proposed” measure, as well as identify the “legal consequences” of each measure.

Once the Attorney General has filed and posted the draft explanation, the public has 10 days to provide written comment. The explanation was filed today July 24, 2026, and the deadline for comments on this explanation is Aug. 3, 2026, at the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota. The final explanation is due to the Secretary of State on Aug. 13, 2026. To file written comments for a draft Attorney General’s explanation please use one of the following methods below. Copies of all received comments will be posted on this website.

Comments may be submitted via mail, or through hand delivery, to the Attorney General’s Office at:

Office of the Attorney General
Ballot Comment
1302 S.D. E. Hwy 1889
Pierre, SD 57501

Comments that are hand delivered must be received by the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota, by Aug. 3, 2026. Comments that are mailed must be received by the Aug. 3, 2026 deadline to be accepted. Comments may also be emailed to ATGballotcomments@state.sd.us by the close of business on Aug. 3, 2026. Comments should be clearly expressed in the body of the email. The Attorney General’s Office will not open attachments in an effort to prevent malware or other digital threats. Please include your name and contact information when submitting your comment. The title of the comment must be included in the subject line of the email.

The draft ballot explanation can be found here: https://atg.sd.gov/docs/July%2024%202026%20ltr.MJJ%20Draft%20AG%20Statement.%20IM%20Direct%20Sales%20of%20Dairy%20Products.pdf

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Securing the Border for Good
By Sen. John Thune

Under President Biden, the southern border was a mess. Thousands of illegal immigrants were crossing the border every single day, Border Patrol agents were overwhelmed, and the consequences of this chaos were affecting communities around the country, including in South Dakota. The worst part: It was avoidable. But President Biden chose not to enforce our laws and secure the border, and chaos reigned as a result.

Border security isn’t a choice, it’s an obligation. After he took office last year, President Trump wasted no time securing the border. We saw illegal crossings drop precipitously, and border agents weren’t spread so thin anymore, so they could spend more time stopping cartels and other criminals. The police chief in Sioux Falls has even said that “some of the measures taken within the southern border are paying dividends within our community.”

This is the way things should be, and last summer Republicans provided resources in the Working Families Tax Cuts to ensure the border stays secure for years to come. This landmark bill provides the resources necessary to finish the border wall and deploy additional barriers and technology to secure the border. There was funding to support hiring new border agents and to bring on more immigration judges to address the massive backlog in immigration cases.

Those resources are making a difference. Thanks to President Trump and the Working Families Tax Cuts, as of the end of last month apprehensions at the southern border are 94 percent lower than they were under the Biden administration. Border Patrol is seeing a few hundred border crossings on a typical day – compared to as many as 10,000 in a single day at times under President Biden. And not a single illegal immigrant has been released from the border in more than a year.

Meanwhile, Democrats continue to embrace open borders. After complicity with the Biden border crisis, Democrats opposed the border security measures in the Working Families Tax Cuts. Then, earlier this year, Democrats took an even more radical position: defunding Border Patrol and ICE. Fortunately, their radical position did not carry the day.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Rapid City with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. It was great to meet the South Dakotans working in federal law enforcement and to hear about the work that they are doing with South Dakota law enforcement to keep our communities safe – work made possible by a program we bolstered in the Working Families Tax Cuts.

The security of our country and our communities is an important responsibility. Without it, nothing else much matters. I appreciate the law enforcement officers in South Dakota who go to work every day to keep us safe, and I’m proud to be working to support them and provide safer streets for South Dakotans and for all Americans.

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Press Release:

Jamie Smith and Sue Roust Endorse Curt Deedrich for Minnehaha County Auditor

Curt Deedrich’s campaign kickoff marked a significant milestone with the back-to-back endorsements of State Senator and former mayoral candidate Jamie Smith and longtime Minnehaha County Auditor Sue Roust.

These endorsements represent more than support for a campaign—they reflect a shared vision for the future of Minnehaha County elections. Their confidence reinforces a commitment to restoring integrity, professionalism, transparency, and public trust in the election process.

“I am truly honored to receive the endorsements of Jamie Smith and Sue Roust,” said Curt Deedrich. “Jamie has demonstrated unwavering leadership and a deep commitment to serving our community, while Sue’s decades of dedicated service as Minnehaha County Auditor have earned the respect and trust of countless citizens. Their belief in this campaign means more than words can express.”

Deedrich emphasized that the campaign is focused on bringing people together and moving beyond division.

“Together, we can move beyond unnecessary drama and focus on what truly matters—serving the people of Minnehaha County with fairness, transparency, and respect. This campaign is about restoring confidence in our elections, strengthening public trust, and ensuring every voter knows their voice matters.”

Deedrich concluded by expressing his sincere gratitude to both leaders.

“Jamie and Sue, thank you for your trust, your leadership, and your confidence in this campaign. I am deeply grateful for your support, and I look forward to working together to usher in a new chapter defined by collaboration, accountability, and exceptional public service.”

As the campaign continues, Deedrich remains committed to building an election office that serves every citizen with professionalism, integrity, and unwavering dedication to the democratic process.

Tuesday is election night, and the Rhoden campaign has events happening on both ends of the state.

In East River, we have an election night event in the Canopy by Hilton in Sioux Falls, starting at 6:30 PM

And in Rapid City, the Strong Safe and Free PAC headed by Mike Derby is heading up the festivities starting at 6:30 Mountain Time at Paddy O’Neill’s in Rapid City.

So be there on Tuesday night, and watch the show!

This morning, Toby Doeden is posting on Facebook on the heels of the Dakota Scout story on his Lt. picks that he actually asked Jon Hansen to be his Lt. Governor three times.

And then a cock crowed! It’s as if he is just like Jesus!

Seriously though, it seems that the campaign is trying to stop the bleeding over who he is going to put a whisper away from the Governor‘s chair in the Lieutenant Governor seat; the person who will be spending time presiding over the South Dakota Senate in addition to whatever duties are assigned.

First they’re leaking out it could be two darlings of the hard-right to hold their base, OR someone regarded as a solid leader who will be in Senate leadership with the ouster of members of the hard right to court Dusty voters. Today, they’re claiming that Toby wanted Jon Hansen in an attempt to court his voters.

As I wrote a few days ago, noting one of the primary problems of the campaign going to the home-stretch…

Who on earth is Doeden going to choose as his Lt. Gov, and/or populate his administration with?Because right now, all I see is a circus surrounding Toby Doeden, and I don’t want to turn State Government into a clown car.   We don’t know what we don’t know at this point.   We might very likely have the awful Taffy Howard as Lt. Governor.

The problem is we don’t know what we’re going to get. And over the last couple of days, all Toby has provided in response to that big question is continued uncertainty.

I think all this Lt. talk coming the weekend before the vote is too little too late, because it continues to be a lot of speculation and political chatter with no certainty behind it.

At this point, I suspect everybody’s minds are already made up, and no amount of chatter about who it COULD BE is going to change the outcome on Tuesday.

While I’m sitting at a wedding this afternoon, my phone started blowing up as the Dakota Scout released a list of whom they are claiming are on Toby Doeden’s short list for Lieutenant Governor.

Doeden has not publicly named finalists in his search for a lieutenant governor candidate, but according to sources of The Dakota Scout, the political newcomer who made history as the top vote-getter in the June 2 primary has narrowed his shortlist to a former House speaker, a former congressional candidate, a veteran state government operative and a moderate leader in the South Dakota Legislature.

You can read it here.

Steve Haugaard, Taffy Howard are not unexpected from being Doeden supporters, but then Sen. Casey Crabtree was thrown in there, as was Jackley campaign worker Jason Williams.

Supposedly Taffy and Toby were filming together at the Republican state convention, so that was high on my guess list.

Haugaard has been active on social media for Toby, but the other two haven’t said anything about Doeden, so they come as a bit of a surprise.

Casey would be a capable leader to preside over the Senate, but I think this would be new and unfamiliar territory for Williams.

What are your thoughts?