The South Dakota legislature discussed on Monday a proposal to remove the lieutenant governor as the head of the state senate.
The proposal would eliminate the lieutenant governor’s authority to provide a tie-breaking vote and leaving them to perform duties and exercise powers given to them by the governor. It also removes the lieutenant governor’s inability from acting as a member of the court during a governor’s impeachment trial.
The joint resolution would ask voters at the next general election if they approve of the amendments made to the state constitution.
Senator Steve Kolbeck, prime sponsor of the bill, said allowing the assembly to choose the chairperson of the senate is fairer and allows the majority party to take responsibility for how the senate would run.
Recently the lieutenant governor cast a tie-breaking vote on a measure, bringing it to the state supreme court, with the court ruling that the lieutenant governor’s casting vote can break ties.
There is some discussion about whether or not voters will approve of the changes.
The bill passed on a 9 to 0 vote.
