It was a great honor to represent District 20. I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity and to be a parttime Legislator for the great state of South Dakota. I have met so many amazing people from across this state that are working tirelessly for the people. One of those champions is Speaker of the House Representative Jon Hansen (D25). I couldn’t have wrapped up the 100th session better. Here is what Speaker Hansen said: “10 Great Wins from the Historic 100th South Dakota Legislative Session.”
“1: NO EMINENT DOMAIN FOR PRIVATE GAIN: HB 1052 PASSED. Eminent domain for green new deal carbon pipelines is now banned. No more threats, intimidation, and lawsuits against landowners. We the people are back in control. Private property rights are restored!”
“2: STOPPING BAD DEALS FOR TAXPAYERS: The nearly one billion dollar prison project in Lincoln County was too expensive and in a bad location. We KILLED HB 1025, which would have authorized the prisons construction. This compelled parties to the negotiation table—which was the right thing to do. We also PASSED SB 145, stopping the administration’s future ability to unilaterally engage in overpriced leases like the 30 year, nearly $300 million LEASE for “One-Stop” in Sioux Falls. No more bad deals for South Dakota taxpayers!”
“3: SECURING SOUTH DAKOTA’S VOTE: A huge problem existed in our state law that allowed non-South Dakotans to vote in South Dakota elections. It’s insane that this was happening, but efforts to fix this in prior years failed. This year, however, HB 1066 and HB 1208 PASSED. No more out-of-staters voting in local elections.”
“4:ELECTION INTEGRITY: Public election data was not readily open to public inspection—it used to cost big $$$ for the people to audit our elections. This year, HB 1062 PASSED, which means no more government gatekeeping of public information by charging exorbitant fees. We are strengthening the integrity of our elections.”
“5: ENDING WOKE AND PROTECTING WOMENS’ PRIVACY: In prior years, laws to protect the dignity of young girls and women from trans identifying men entering their private spaces were vetoed or failed. But this year, HB 1259 PASSED, and so men will use men’s bathrooms and women will use women’s bathrooms. We are bringing back common sense.”
“6: SAFEGUARDING KIDS FROM EXPLICIT CONTENT: Two years ago, I brought one of the first bills to protect children from websites that contain material harmful to minors. That bill was killed by the Senate. But this year was different, and HB 1053 PASSED. We are putting kids and family first!”
“7: BALANCED AND OPEN BUDGET: The budget bill used to be delivered like a DC omnibus bill: little time to read it but great pressure to pass it—or else. NOT THIS YEAR. Stemming from the goal I set as Speaker before session began, the bill was delivered DAYS BEFORE the vote. This is the way and sets the new standard of openness and transparency going forward.”
“8: PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTION: Our state constitution is among the easiest to amend in all the United States, which makes it vulnerable to a flood of out-ofstate interests and money. This year, HB 1169 and HJR 5003 PASSED, which will protect our constitution by ensuring MORE South Dakotans have a voice in the amendment process.”
“9: DEFENDING LIFE: After the historic and monumental defeat of Abortion Amendment G last November, we continued to protect life and help mothers and families. South Dakota remains a pro-life state that loves babies and their mothers and fathers. This session, HB 1005 PASSED, providing help to families who choose to adopt.”
“10: GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY:AsSpeaker, I have appointed the most down-to-business, no-specialtreatment Legislative Audit Committee in memory. Then the legislature PASSED SB 176, which gives that committee more audit tools and authority. Accountability measures brought by our Attorney General also PASSED. There will be transparency and accountability in your government again!”
“LOOKING FORWARD… SD DOGE + CUTTING PROPERTY TAXES: The strain of property taxes needs to end. Property taxes punish you for unrealized gains and force you to essentially “rent” your land from the government forever. HCR 6003, which I sponsored, PASSED, creating the taskforce to target excessive government spending and inefficiencies and develop other impactful ways to end the burdensome strain of property taxes in South Dakota. We will preserve the American dream of home ownership.”
“I’m so grateful to my fellow house leadership: Leader Scott Odenbach, Assistant Leader Marty Overweg, Speaker Pro Tempore Karla Lems; the sponsors of these bills; all of our colleagues who supported these and other good measures; and the great people who we serve. Together we are ushering in a new era of government in South Dakota where you and your family come first; where your rights and priorities come before those of the special, bigmoney interests; and where our state government matches the goodness of the people it represents. May the Lord continue to bless our great state. Under God, the people rule.”