The South Dakota Senate adopted changes to its procedural rules during its floor session after the standing committee on legislative procedure filed a report recommending the revisions.

The changes, presented by the committee and adopted on a roll-call vote of 34 ayes and one excused, include combining two consent calendars into one and a package of clarifying amendments recommended by the Legislative Research Council.

Senator Jim Melhoff, chair of the committee on legislative procedure, moved that the report of the committee, as shown on page 49 of the senate journal, be adopted. "This takes the previous senate rules and we added one change and that change is for efficiency and better use of our time and it basically combines two consent calendars into one," Sen. Chris Carr said in support of the change. Carr spoke during debate and described the change as a measure to improve chamber efficiency.

Melhoff outlined additional clarifications packaged with the rule changes, telling colleagues the set included four amendments addressing the "smoke out process," conference committees, the legislative calendar, and clerical errors on resolutions; he also cited rules on withdrawing bills and the revenue subcommittee for the Joint Committee on Appropriations. "Normally we have a red book because the cover is red. This year it will be gold," Melhoff said, referring to the Legislative Research Council's (LRC) updated presentation of the rules.

The Senate recorded the vote as 34 ayes with one member excused; no opposing votes were recorded. The president declared the motion carried and the rules adopted.

The adopted changes take effect as internal chamber rules; the report and the related rule text are part of the Senate's legislative procedure documents and will guide floor operations and committee practice for the remainder of the session.

The adoption occurred during the formal consideration of committee reports; senators voted by roll call after brief floor remarks from committee leadership.