South Dakota lawmakers reject longer wait for officials taking private jobs with state contractors

South Dakota lawmakers reject longer wait for officials taking private jobs with state contractors

State House Speaker Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, listens to a committee hearing at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre on Jan. 23, 2026. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)A bill to require South Dakota officials who award or oversee major state contracts with private companies to wait longer before accepting jobs with those companies was defeated on Monday, per the request of the bill’s own House sponsor.  Under current law, such st…