• The SD State Legislature has completed sixteen days of a 38 day session.  A few bills have reached the governor's desk.  One was signed with great fanfare on Thursday.   HB 1066, the Tourism Tax Bill, extends the special sales tax indefinitely.  It is a tax that is paid during the summer months and is paid mostly by out-of-state visitors.  It was overwhelmingly approved by both houses as it is seen as a very valuable tool in terms of drawing more tourists to South Dakota.   
• HB 1087
• The Senate will be the next body to hear HB 1087.  The Sentinel Bill would allow teachers, administrators, or staff to become "authorized personnel" and carry a gun in school if the local school board approves.  Current law allows schools to have a resource officer who is the only "authorized" person with a

weapon on school grounds.  While we all want to keep kids safe, allowing teachers and staff to carry guns in schools increases the possibility of an accident and will likely create intense public pressure on both sides of the issue.  This passed 42-27 in the House after considerable debate and now it will be up to the Senate.  The constituents that I have heard from have been mostly opposed to this concept but I have heard from both sides.  Please continue to provide input on this and other items.   
• Proponents claim that schools are known to be gun-free zones and soft targets. In reality almost all the places where families gather are likely to be gun free.  How far do we go? Should we make sure armed volunteers are at each of our church services, Sunday Schools, ball games, city parks, county fairs, movie theatres, and pizza places? Do we really want our children to feel that their SD school is so at-risk that we must allow teachers to carry weapons? There's a lot to think about, but let's not forget about who really matters.  It is our children and I wonder how this will make them feel.
• Higher Education
• There is no greater mission in South Dakota than to provide affordable and quality higher education. This is particularly important because of our unique demographic challenges. SD has an aging population and the only real chance we have of sustained economic growth is to keep our young college and tech school graduates in SD. As a state, we are making progress with more students entering post-secondary at one of our six universities or at our four technical schools. SD is actu

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