The bill legalizing industrial hemp started the session at ten pages…expanded to 26 pages…and is now just one sentence.
The amended bill passes the Senate hours after Governor Noem announces plans to fund the hemp program at her full requested amount of 3.6 million dollars.
But the debate isn’t over…
Senator Joshua Klumb says this bill has been a group effort for more than a year, and thanks the governor’s office…members of the summer study on industrial hemp…and industry leaders from around the state.
“You know, when we introduced our bill the governor came out with her four guardrails. And when we had our bill we had three of those four guardrails in there. And as you all know the funding part of this is still being worked out but I think we’ve come to a conclusion. And so with that, I ask for your support of this bill. Thank you."
The Senate then approves an amendment that brings the 26-page version of the bill down to one sentence: “The State of South Dakota will implement a plan for hemp in South Dakota.”
Senator Jeff Partridge brought the amendment.
“Everything that we have been talking about we will continue to talk about, but ultimately this makes it more of a generalized bill right now and I’d encourage your passage of the amendment.”
The amended bill passes, which now prompts both chambers to sort through funding differences.
Governor Noem says there’s money for the full $3.6 million to fund industrial hemp and two-percent increases for education…community care providers…and state employees. She points to increased revenues and decreased use of social programs through the Department of Social Services.
Noem has said she won’t support an industrial hemp bill without adequate funding.