2021 S.D. Legislature: Brandon to gain new legislative representation through redistricting process

Last week, the House and the Senate convened for a Special Session to resolve the redistricting that occurs every 10 years. The final Bill passed with a very narrow majority vote. From the beginning of this process the Senate leader pressed for his particular redistricting map. It made significant changes to many districts which rearranged the landscape for many voters, and that was, for the most part, the map that prevailed.  

There were several proposed maps in the beginning, and it seemed that the House proposal was more supported throughout the community listening sessions. However, the political negotiations drifted toward the Senate version and that got the final vote.

There are many requirements for redistricting and we probably checked all of those boxes, but, if there are no further changes or court challenges, the final boundaries will leave Brandon with a new slate of legislative members.

The new boundaries will blend Brandon into the small towns to the north. I expect that Brandon will continue to have a strong working relationship with Sioux Falls as well as the smaller municipalities. We can see that population growth is going to be a constant for our region for many years to come, and 10 years from now Brandon will possibly find itself in yet another changed district.

I have greatly enjoyed representing our current District 10 and have been blessed with good support and great relationships. In whatever capacity I serve in the years ahead, I will continue to represent the best interests of our state.  

Last week was also a separate Special Session in regard to the impeachment issue. I was appointed as one of the members on the subcommittee to review the question as to whether impeachment should be used in this matter. We will likely meet within the next couple of weeks to explore that question. A final decision will be up to the entire House membership and it is most likely that will be months down the road.   

In the meantime, the Government Operations and Audit will continue to look into issues that have come before them this summer. The Accountability Board will also be gathering information to address issues of concern.  And, the Appropriations Committee will be meeting prior to the Budget Address in December to sort through budget considerations that have come to light due to the massive influx of federal dollars in the past year.

As always, feel free to contact me (steven.haugaard@sdlegislature.gov) with questions or comments. You can also go to www.sdlegislature.gov to listen in on the meetings or to see what else is happening in state government.