2016 Session Sees Tax Hike Signed, Transgender Bill Blocked

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The Legislature has passed a nearly $4.6 billion budget, capping a session in which lawmakers approved a historic tax hike to boost teacher pay.

But the GOP-led House and Senate were thwarted in their effort to make South Dakota the first state to limit the bathrooms that transgender students could use.

The Legislature's main run ended Friday, but lawmakers will reconvene March 29th to consider vetoes from Governor Dennis Daugaard.

The tax hike is the first permanent increase to the state's sales tax rate of 4 cents per dollar in nearly half a century.

The governor also signed a measure prohibiting most abortions beyond 19 weeks of pregnancy and a new retirement plan for future public employees.