South Dakota 2021 Legislative Session recap with Gov. Kristi Noem.

DRG Media Group news and farm director Jody Heemstra chatted with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (April 2, 2021) about this year's legislative session. Among the topics covered are:

• having $300+ million in one-time federal dollars to spend

• creation and funding of Freedom Scholarships

• funding increases for Medicaid providers, education and state employees

• the merger of the state departments of Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources

• approval to build the Dakota Events CompleX (the DEX) on the State Fairgrounds in Huron

• special session to be called in late May or early June. Legislators will decide how to allocate the money coming to the state from Pres. Biden's economic stimulus plan. Speaker of the House Spencer Gosch has the power/authority to decide if legislators will also work out implementation of medical marijuana and if legislators will act on/pass into law Gov. Noem's executive orders restricting transgender girls/women athletes for competing in girls' K-12 or college level sports in South Dakota.