Government Relations

Please remember that the Board of Regents' policy on political activity, Policy No. 4.1.7, applies to BOR employees who may be called to testify before the legislature.

If you will be testifying, please contact Laura McNaughton, chief of staff and director of government relations. As you continue to engage with our legislative leaders, please keep Laura informed of your outreach efforts. This is important in aligning our legislative communication strategy.

As a reminder, all BOR employees enjoy all rights of free expression accorded them under state and federal law. Nevertheless, employees, especially faculty and professional staff members, should remember that the public may judge their institution or the Board of Regents by their public statements. Unless they have been authorized to make an official statement on behalf of their institution or the Board, employees should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking or writing as institutional or Board representatives. At a minimum, employees who identify their institutional affiliation should advise the public that the views that they express represent their own private or professional opinions, not those of their institution or of the Board, and that these opinions are given in their individual capacities or as private consultants.

A possible script for prefatory remarks might be:
"Good morning. My name is __________. I am from ___________, where I am employed as a ____________ by _____________. I have come here this morning in my individual capacity as a concerned citizen (or in my individual capacity as consultant to ____________) (or in my individual capacity at the invitation of Rep./Sen. _________). I have not been authorized to testify to this bill on behalf of the South Dakota Board of Regents or ___________, and my remarks reflect only my own views (professional judgment)."

If you wish to contact an elected official to share your personal opinion or position on proposed legislation, it should not be done using a USD email account or on official letterhead. Please do so using personal email. If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Each year USD and other BOR institutions participate in FY27 Budget Hearings by presenting to the Joint Committee on Appropriations. During their presentations, university leaders provide updates related to institutional spending, enrollment growth, university achievements, efforts to support the workforce and other topics that are of interest to the committee. This year USD’s presentation to the Joint Committee on Appropriations is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2026. The meeting will be held in Pierre and broadcast by South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

University employees may be called to testify under varying circumstances. Please see the information above about political activity and contact Laura McNaughton if you will be testifying.

The 2026 legislative session runs January 12 – March 12, 2026, with veto day on March 30. The full calendar is available on the South Dakota Legislature website.

2026 South Dakota Legislative Session Calendar

USD maintains a bill tracker to share information about proposed legislation that relates to the university and/or higher education; you can find that resource at the bottom of this page.

In addition to following USD’s bill tracker, you can track all proposed legislation on the South Dakota Legislature website.

View 2026 Bills

Visit the following page on the South Dakota Legislature website to view a comprehensive list of legislators.

2026 Legislator Listing

There are thirteen standing committees in each house, divided by subject matter. You can find committee information on the South Dakota Legislature website. All committee hearings are broadcast on SDPB.