In response to the coronavirus, state lawmakers will convene electronically for the last legislative day of the session.
Lawmakers will also consider overriding any gubernatorial vetoes.
Next Monday, only a handful of leaders from both parties and both chambers will meet in person at the state capitol. That group will include the Speaker of the House, president of the Senate—and the lieutenant governor.
The other 99 legislators are asked to stay home and participate electronically. Lawmakers will have to suspend the rules to vote remotely.
The Legislative Research Council is setting up phone lines for lawmakers… One for each party in each chamber.
Senate President Pro Tempore Brock Greenfield is a Republican from Clark. He says the decision to handle the last day remotely, was partly prompted by the number of federal lawmakers who’ve been exposed to the coronavirus.
“We don’t want that to happen in our state, by doing something that’s less than wise,” Greenfield says. “I’m hopeful that in short order we will be beyond this. Until we get beyond it, it’s a very serious matter that needs to be given the respect that it deserves.”
Greenfield says it would be irresponsible for the legislature to convene in person and ignore CDC guidelines that recommend limited contact and social distancing. Already, one state lawmaker has tested positive for coronavirus. Representative Bob Glanzer of Huron is recovering in the hospital.
Governor Kristi Noem has issued two vetoes on bills to resolve technical problems. Noem says the bills violate the constitution by taking on more than one subject.
In her veto letter, Noem says sone of the affected agencies affected were consulted in the legislation.