by Chesney Garnos, Director of Political & Grassroots Affairs South Dakota Legislative Session has officially tipped off! The DakCU team hit the ground running on the first day of the South Dakota Legislative Session in Pierre. John Alexandar and I started last Tuesday in Pierre, where we attended South Dakota’s State of the State delivered by Governor Kristi Noem. Her speech this year was focused on a central theme of “freedom,” including ten policy related areas in South Dakota where “freedom works.” The list included:
For the entire recap, you can watch here.  I also had the opportunity to attend the 2024 State of Tribes Address. Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Vice President Cyndi Allen-Weddel delivered this year’s address, focusing on ways the state and tribes could collaborate and work together more on addressing the needs of those living in our tribal communities. Watch the entire address here.
As I shared last week, there were already 136 bills on the South Dakota Legislative Research Council’s website. Now, we are at 176 bills as of 7:00 p.m. on Monday evening with the expectation of more bills on the way. DakCU, along with our South Dakota Governmental Affairs Committee is currently monitoring five bills. We will continue to post bill tracking updates here. Once you are under our bill tracking system, don’t forget to filter by state so you are reviewing South Dakota bills for 2024. Advocate like a pro at South Dakota Credit Union Day in Pierre! Last week, roughly 105 emails went out to South Dakota lawmakers regarding our credit union priorities, which included keeping our special tax status and supporting financial well-being for all South Dakotans. An official invitation was also provided, inviting legislators to attend our Credit Union Legislative Social at the Ramkota Conference Center in Pierre on January 24. It is important for our credit union members to have a strong representation for our lawmakers in Pierre. Please register for the event here and reach out to me if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this year’s social. Shoutout to Oahe FCU, Black Hills FCU, Alloya Corporate FCU, and CU Mortgage for joining us as sponsors – this event would not be possible without each of you! Teamwork with our South Dakota federal delegation and Sioux Falls Rotary. Though the South Dakota Legislative Session is underway, and we are busy advocating for our credit unions at the state level, our work at the federal level has not slowed down. Over the past two weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with staffers from across South Dakota’s entire delegation, including dozens of emails and even in-person meetings with both Senator Thune’s and Senator Rounds’ staff. I also had the opportunity to catch up with Senator John Thune in his hometown of Murdo, SD. In case you missed it on DakCU’s Facebook, I’ll catch you up on a fun fact! Do you know what Senator John Thune and I have in common? Our love for South Dakota high school basketball and the Jones County Invitational Tournament! Last week following the South Dakota Legislative Session, I traveled to Murdo to watch my brother play in the Jones County Invitational. This tournament is the hub every January for small, west river schools across South Dakota, with fans packing the Harrold Thune Auditorium, named after Senator Thune’s father. While some may argue business deals are made on the golf course, I argue meaningful advocacy conversations are made on the basketball court! On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I also had the privilege of participating in the Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary Meeting. The focal point of this gathering was the powerful quote attributed to MLK Jr: "Make a career of humanity.” This event allowed me to deeply reflect on this topic. In my role as a credit union advocate, I am reminded that my purpose is to live by these words. It prompts introspection about the actions I take to advocate and enhance the financial well-being of those in our very own communities. I also felt gratitude. Overall, our Dakota credit unions continually strive to improve the lives of the members we serve, and I think that is quite beautiful. As I left the event, I couldn't help but feel honored to be part of an industry that prioritizes people over profit. What's been happening at the National Level? Last week, Rep. Scott Fitzgerald from Wisconsin voiced support for a bipartisan bill, the "Expanding Access to Lending Options Act," which would allow federal credit unions to offer loans with maturities up to 20 years. This is a bipartisan led effort. This legislation aims to provide consumers with lower monthly payments and foster competition in lending products for various purposes, including small businesses, students, and agriculture. Watch as Rep. Young Kim from California voices her support for credit unions and this bill here. Additionally, the EPC launched a nationwide ad campaign to oppose the Durbin-Marshall legislation, with support from community banks and credit unions representing over 140 million Americans. The campaign will use digital ads, videos, and local radio spots to inform lawmakers about the bill's negative impact on Main Street financial institutions and challenge its "carve-out" for community banks and credit unions. We have another busy week ahead in Congress. January 19 is the deadline to secure government funding for four appropriations measures (Agriculture, Energy, Veterans, Transportation, and Housing programs), so our team is watching the national level closely. We are also monitoring the following hearings for this week:
Important Links and Articles. Links: Articles:
Let’s keep the ball rolling! As always, don’t hesitate to contact me with any advocacy or legislative questions or concerns. Comments are closed.
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