Drugs, Guns, Education: Hot Legislative Topics

It the first day of 2013 South Dakota Legislative Session and this year lawmakers are getting prepared to tackle a handful of hot button issues.

State lawmakers are expected to address some of the same issues being discussed on the national level including synthetic drugs, bath salts and gun control.

The Navy just released a Public Service Announcement warning of the dangers of bath salts.  Lawmakers expect to see bills addressing the new drug as well as synthetic drugs.

Legislators also anticipate discussing bills that address training teachers on security tactics and whether to have guns in schools to protect students.

Education could be a very large player in Pierre following the failures of two issues on the November ballot.  Initiated Measure 15 would have increased the state sales tax by 1 percent and Referred Law 16 was the five-part education reform act that that lawmakers passed as HB1234.

Governor Dennis Daugaard's State of the State address begins at 1 p.m. CST in Pierre.  You can watch it live on our Live Coverage page of KELOLAND.com when it begins.  Then we'll have full reports on the details tonight on KELOLAND News.