Gov. Kristi Noem Passes On South Dakota Women’s Sports Bill, Issues Executive Orders Instead

Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem again passed on signing a bill to bar biological males from competing as transgender females in women’s sports, instead issuing executive orders in the bill’s place.

The State Legislature voted to reject Noem’s “style and form” veto on Monday, but the House could not muster the two-thirds majority necessary to enact the bill without the governor’s signature. Noem declined to sign the legislation without her proposed changes, instead issuing two executive orders to block biological males from participating in women’s sports.