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Gov. Larry Roden urges new prison, property-rights protections and Medicaid work requirements in inaugural address
Summary
In his first address to a joint session, Gov. Larry Roden prioritized replacing the state penitentiary, protecting private property, pursuing Medicaid work requirements after Amendment F, supporting education savings accounts and rebuilding tribal relations while flagging tight revenue constraints.
Gov. Larry Roden used his first address to a joint session of the South Dakota Legislature to lay out priorities including construction of a new prison, support for property-rights protections, work requirements tied to Medicaid expansion and new education savings accounts.
Roden framed several items as immediate priorities and said his administration will seek to restore some proposed budget cuts while warning that state budgeting is a “zero-sum game.” He called for “openness and responsiveness” from his administration and asked tribal leaders for a “reset” in government-to-government relations.
The governor described the state penitentiary as outdated and in poor repair and urged action. “Let me tell you, I walked through that penitentiary just a few weeks ago and it needs to go. It is gothic inside,” Roden said. He said the state has set money aside for a replacement and that paying cash for the project would avoid interest and debt-service costs, but he did not specify an amount or timeline.
On taxes and property, Roden reiterated a long-standing focus on property-tax relief and private-property protections. He noted his past role in sponsoring a 2006 bill to reform eminent-domain rules, citing House Bill 1080 from that year as an example of earlier work on the issue. He did not announce new eminent-domain legislation in the speech.
Roden said his Department of Social Services will move to implement work requirements for recipients of Medicaid expansion following “the passage of Amendment F last November,” and that the department would work with the federal administration to pursue that change. He said South Dakota CareerLink will be available to help recipients find work. The governor did not provide implementation dates or specific eligibility rules in the address.
The governor voiced support for education savings accounts currently advanced by legislative leaders, saying he supports the bills backed by Leader Odenbach and Leader Melhoff and that he would work to ensure neither public schools nor homeschooling families are harmed by them.
Roden pledged to direct his cabinet to review agency operations for efficiencies and to bring options to the federal administration to streamline interactions. He said he will not offer a separate budget proposal and will work with the proposed budget before the Legislature, while seeking to restore some of the proposed cuts if revenue allows. “Budgeting is about priorities,” he said.
On public safety, Roden said hiring more officers is preferable to increasing penalties. He also said he will seek to rebuild relations with tribal governments and described recent gestures as a “great first step” toward restoring trust.
Roden said he would appoint a lieutenant governor but did not announce a selection. He closed by asking lawmakers and the public to pray for him and his family.
Votes at a glance: - Motion to appoint a committee of five senators and six representatives to escort Gov. Larry Roden to the rostrum. Moved by Sen. Melhoff; second not specified. Passed by voice vote (motion carries).
