Governor Kristi Noem is issuing her first veto of the session.
The bill raises the threshold for lottery deductions for debts. She says the bill goes too far.
If someone owes back child support, the state will collect from lottery winnings over $100.
Senate Bill 76 sought to bump that up to any winnings over $599.
In her veto message to lawmakers, Governor Noem says 44 prizes from winning lottery tickets were under the proposed threshold. She says those debts include past due child support payments.
Noem says while the bill appears harmless, it allows people to avoid their obligations.
“I vetoed that bill on the basis that there was $12,000 worth of payments made to families based on that collection effort by that lottery system,” Noem said. “We’re grateful the families had the opportunity to collect that back child support.”
The law hasn’t been updated in over 30 years.
The bill was brought by Republican State Senator David Wheeler. He declined to comment on the governor’s veto. He says the bill was adjusting the amount for inflation.
“Every other state in the nation that has this same type of statute is at the number that I’m at, except for four others that are at $500,” Wheeler said. “Everybody else is at $599. I’m just trying to bring our state into accord with everybody else.”
Overriding a governor’s veto requires 2/3rds vote in each chamber. Wheeler did not have that support in the Senate but did in the House. He says he’s going to work with senators on a veto override.
Lawmakers have until March 28 to do so. That day is reserved for veto considerations.
