PIERRE, S.D. – The House State Affairs Committee defeated a bill this morning (Friday) that would have restored the power to issue subpoenas to the legislature’s investigative committee.
Proponents said House Bill 1001 would have reinstated the ability of the Government Operations and Accountability to issue subpoenas without first getting approval from the legislature’s Executive Board.
GOAC investigates some of the most controversial issues in South Dakota state government.
For example, in 2021-22, the committee investigated whether Gov. Kristi Noem unduly pressured a state agency to issue her daughter a real estate appraisal license. In 2014, the committee investigated if Gov. Mike Rounds’ administration abused the EB-5 visa program. The EB-5 program provides “green cards” (permanent residency) to foreigners who invested a certain amount of money in the United States.
Supporters said the current subpoena process is too cumbersome, since GOAC needs to get the Executive Board’s approval before issuing a subpoena compelling testimony or documents.
However, in the last two years, the committee has only requested one subpoena that the E Board approved, but the subject eventually complied without the subpoena.
The House State Affairs Committee defeated the bill on a 9-3 vote.
