Today is Crossover Day in the South Dakota Legislature, the deadline by which most bills must pass their chamber of origin or die for the year. Lawmakers have faced a heavy workload ahead of the cutoff, with long committee days needed to process an unusually large number of bills.
Sen. Tim Reed calls the day a “reality check,” as only bills with enough momentum move forward, while others fall away due to limits on time, funding, or consensus. Budget debates also loom large, fueled by stronger‑than‑expected sales tax revenues and renewed discussions about teacher pay, state employee salaries, Medicaid rates, and a proposal to make a 0.3% sales tax cut permanent.
Extended floor sessions saw lawmakers rush to move remaining bills before the deadline. Anything not passed out of its chamber by Crossover Day is considered dead for the session. With major policy and budget decisions still pending, legislators say this week will set the tone for the final stretch of the 2026 session.
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