South Dakota Vote Reports

2026 SD Legislative Scorecard

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the South Dakota Legislature in 2026 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

Senate Votes

  • Con-Con

    Applies to Congress for an Article V constitutional convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

  • Government Health Program

    Appropriates federal funding to carry out the state's Rural Health Transformation Program.

  • Parental Rights

    Would have codified certain parental rights in state law, including the right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and healthcare of their minor children.

  • Government Loans

    Authorizes loans from the South Dakota Housing Infrastructure Fund for airport infrastructure projects.

  • Abortion-drug Ban

    Prohibits the dispensing, distribution, sale, or advertisement of drugs, substances, or other items intended to cause an unlawful abortion.

  • Free School Meals

    Establishes state-reimbursement rules for school districts that provide free or reduced-price meals to students.

House Votes

  • Government Health Program

    Appropriates federal funding to carry out the state's Rural Health Transformation Program.

  • Resolution for God's Healing

    Urges South Dakotans to seek God's healing presence and mercy upon the state.

  • Con-Con

    Applies to Congress for an Article V constitutional convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

  • Free School Meals

    Establishes state-reimbursement rules for school districts that provide free or reduced-price meals to students.

  • Parental Rights

    Would have codified certain parental rights in state law, including the right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and healthcare of their minor children.

  • Abortion-drug Ban

    Prohibits the dispensing, distribution, sale, or advertisement of drugs, substances, or other items intended to cause an unlawful abortion.

2025 SD Legislative Scorecard

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the South Dakota Legislature in 2025 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

Senate Votes

  • Federal Rule Adoption

    Updates the state's adoption of federal motor carrier safety and hazardous materials regulations to include all changes made through January 1, 2025.

  • Defend the Guard

    Requires an official declaration of war or other congressional action before the South Dakota National Guard may be deployed by the federal government.

  • CO2 Eminent Domain Prevention

    Provides that no one is allowed to use eminent domain-the unconstitutional power to take private property-to build or operate a pipeline primarily meant for transporting carbon oxide.

  • Childcare Assistance Program

    Enacts a childcare assistance program to allow certain childcare workers to qualify for help with their own childcare costs.

  • Con-Con - Term Limits

    Applies to Congress for an Article V convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would establish term limits for members of Congress.

  • Parental Rights Affirmation

    Affirms that a parent's right to care for and make decisions for his or her child is a fundamental liberty.

House Votes

  • Republican Form of Government

    Proposes a change to South Dakota's constitution that would require any future constitutional amendment to receive at least 60 percent of the vote, rather than a simple majority, to be approved.

  • CO2 Eminent Domain Prevention

    Provides that no one is allowed to use eminent domain-the unconstitutional power to take private property-to build or operate a pipeline primarily meant for transporting carbon oxide.

  • Con-Con

    Applies to Congress to call an Article V convention to propose amendments that would impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit its power and jurisdiction, and establish term limits for Congress and other federal officials.

  • Increased Assessment Fees

    Removes the previous cap of $2 per front foot per year on property assessments for road improvements.

  • Intergovernmental Organization Ban

    Prohibits South Dakota officials and employees from enforcing or implementing any mandates, regulations, fees, or taxes from intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations, World Economic Forum, or World Health Organization.

  • 2nd Amendment Protection

    Prohibits counties, townships, and municipalities from banning employees, officers, or volunteers from lawfully carrying concealed firearms and ammunition in government-owned or leased buildings, vehicles, or property.

2024 SD Legislative Scorecard

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the South Dakota Legislature in 2024 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

Senate Votes

  • Airport Grants

    Appropriates $10,000,000 from the general fund to the Aeronautics Commission for grants aimed at enhancing airport terminal infrastructure projects, including airport expansion.

  • Pipeline Easements

    Forces landowners to grant a right-of-way for carbon dioxide pipelines, putting their property at risk, disguising it at "property rights."

  • Homeless IDs

    Mandates the South Dakota Department of Public Safety to waive the fee for an original or duplicate nondriver identification card one time for applicants who are homeless.

  • Central Bank Digital Currency

    Prohibits the state of South Dakota and its agencies from accepting central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) for any payments, including taxes, fees, and debts.

  • Prohibit Guaranteed Income Programs

    Prohibits counties, townships, and municipalities in South Dakota from establishing ordinances, orders, or rules that implement a guaranteed income program.

  • Carbon-Capture Pipeline

    Facilitates the construction of carbon-capture pipelines that threaten property rights, permits state authorities to override local ordinances regulating the pipelines for safety or economic reasons, and fails to impose restrictions on eminent domain.

House Votes

  • Airport Grants

    Appropriates $10,000,000 from the general fund to the Aeronautics Commission for grants aimed at enhancing airport terminal infrastructure projects, including airport expansion.

  • Reject Eminent Domain

    Prohibits companies from using eminent domain to construct pipelines primarily for transporting carbon oxide for geological storage or sequestration.

  • Prohibit Drag Shows on Campus

    Prohibits the Board of Regents or any institution under its control from using state resources for drag shows or other "obscene live conduct" on college campuses.

  • Prohibit Guaranteed Income Programs

    Prohibits counties, townships, and municipalities in South Dakota from establishing ordinances, orders, or rules that implement a guaranteed income program.

  • Pipeline Easements

    Forces landowners to grant a right-of-way for carbon dioxide pipelines, putting their property at risk, disguising it as "property rights."

  • Carbon-Capture Pipeline

    Facilitates the construction of carbon-capture pipelines that threaten property rights, permits state authorities to override local ordinances regulating the pipelines for safety or economic reasons, and fails to impose restrictions on eminent domain.

2023 SD Legislative Scorecard

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the South Dakota Legislature in 2023 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

This is our second state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.

Senate Votes

House Votes

2022 SD Legislative Scorecard 2021-

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the South Dakota Legislature in 2021 and 2022 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

This is our first state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.

Senate Votes

  • Budget

    Provides approximately $5.9 billion in funding for the operations of the state's government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023.

  • Informed Consent by Pregnant Minors

    Would authorize the informed consent by a pregnant minor for any medical or dental procedure or service related to the minor's prenatal care, the delivery process, or postnatal care if the minor's parent or guardian is either "unavailable or withholds consent."

  • Exemption from COVID-19 Vaccination

    Would provide that employers must allow medical, religious, and natural immunity-based exemptions from COVID-19 vaccination requirements, but not apply to certain health care facilities and the South Dakota National Guard.

  • Article V Convention: Constitutional Amendments

    Would apply to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the U.S. Constitution, to call for a "convention of states" for the purpose of proposing constitutional amendments.

  • Educational Freedom

    Revises the provisions of parental choice regarding compulsory school attendance by expanding "alternative instruction" (e.g., home education) options.

  • Rescinding the Call for an Article V Convention: Balanced Budget Amendment

    Would rescind HJR1001, adopted by the Legislature in 2015, which applied to Congress to "call an Article V convention of the states for the sole purpose of proposing a federal balanced budget amendment."

House Votes

  • Budget

    Provides approximately $5.9 billion in funding for the operations of the state's government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023.

  • Exemption from COVID-19 Vaccination

    Declares that a person may exercise their right of conscience as a basis for exemption from any COVID-19 vaccination mandate by any entity, but this act would not apply to certain health care facilities and the South Dakota National Guard.

  • Informed Consent by Pregnant Minors

    Would authorize the informed consent by a pregnant minor for any medical or dental procedure or service related to the minor's prenatal care, the delivery process, or postnatal care if the minor's parent or guardian is either "unavailable or withholds consent."

  • Limiting Enforcement of Federal Firearms Laws

    Would limit the enforcement of federal laws and directives related to firearms, ammunitions, and components or accessories.

  • Article V Convention: Constitutional Amendments

    Would apply to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the U.S. Constitution, to call for a "convention of states" for the purpose of proposing constitutional amendments.

  • Educational Freedom

    Revises the provisions of parental choice regarding compulsory school attendance by expanding "alternative instruction" (e.g., home education) options.

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