South Dakota legislators are returning to Pierre for the second half of this year’s legislative session, with lots of bills still waiting action.

One of the major issues is the transportation funding bill. The Governor has proposed raising over fifty million dollars in taxes and fees to pay for highway and bridge work.

Representative Mike Stevens of Yankton says they will spend quite a bit of time again in committee going over that bill…

Stevens says most legislators know they need to do something this year…

Any increase in funding for education will come late in the session. The Governor has proposed a two percent increase this year, along with a task force to study long term funding.

Stevens says the task force plan is a good idea…

Lawmakers have four more weeks in the main run of the session.

District 18 legislators will hold the second coffee of the session this Saturday, 10AM at the Avera Pavilion in Yankton.