Legislative Update with Chesney

​What’s ahead for the 2024 South Dakota legislative primaries and a recap of the 2024 South Dakota Legislative Session.

by Chesney Garnos, Director of Political & Grassroots Affairs

South Dakota 2024 Legislative Session Recap
The 2024 legislative session wrapped up its final legislative day on March 26th. You can find legislative updates on bills we tracked during this year’s legislative session HERE. This year, we tracked 17 bills; of those 17 bills we supported 6 bills, opposed 4 bills, and monitored 7 bills.

Of these, our advocacy team, and South Dakota Government Affairs Committee (SD GAC) decided to take committee action on two bills. This included SB 95 and SB 134. Please note that conversations were discussed with legislators on other bills and lobbyists, but we did not feel the need to testify in committee on these other bills.  

• SB 95, which was an act to exempt one motor vehicle of a debtor from being taken by legal process, was defeated in committee. This aligned with our stance, as we opposed this bill. Our SD GAC and advocacy team was able to act on this bill before it was heard in committee by providing a comment letter on our concerns with this legislation and its unintended consequences on our credit union members. We also signed in at committee in opposition of this bill.
• We testified in support of SB 134, which was a bill proposing vital funding for the Healthy Forest Critical Infrastructure Relief and Grant Program. This program would have an impact on our credit union members and credit unions in the Black Hills and west river regions. While we were able to help successfully pass this bill out of the appropriations committee, this bill did end up failing on the floor with a close vote. We are anticipating a similar bill to be brought forward next year.
• Another major win for our credit union advocacy this year was gaining closer connections with other elected officials in Pierre. For the first time ever, credit union leaders from across South Dakota held an in-person meeting with South Dakota State Treasurer, Josh Haeder on the topic of state deposits. It was a successful conversation, and we are looking forward to continuing our relationship with their office in the future.  

 
2024 South Dakota Legislative Primaries Overview
The South Dakota primary elections will be held on June 4th, 2024. The 2024 state elections are set to be dynamic, with all 70 seats in the South Dakota House of Representatives and 35 in the state Senate open for election. Each position offers a two-year term, drawing more than 200 candidates to the race this year. Among these, 44 Republican contests will determine who advances to the state legislature, contrasting with just one Democratic primary across the 35 legislative districts. 
​
It’s crucial for legislators to grasp the distinct nature of not-for-profit credit unions versus other financial institutions. Our association actively seeks to engage members and elected officials through education and grassroots advocacy, utilizing the CUPAC and CULAC political action committees. These funds have been instrumental in strengthening the political influence of credit unions, supporting candidates who advocate for credit union interests at both state and federal levels. You too can make an impact today on the upcoming elections cycle in South Dakota. Donate HERE and we will use your funds to support credit union friendly candidates in their bids for state and federal office. 

To find your legislative district, view the map above and click here for an interactive map.  
​
To see who is running for your district, check the listing below. As always, feel free to contact me with any advocacy or legislative related questions or concerns!

District 1 Senate:
Sen. Michael Rohl (R)
 
District 1 House:
Rep. Tamara St. John (R)
Christopher Reder (R)
Logan Manhart (R)
Steven McCleery (D)
Dana Pulfrey (D)
 
District 2 Senate:
Sen. Steve Kolbeck (R)
 
District 2 House:
Rep. David Kull (R)
Rep. John Sjaarda (R)
Jake Schoenbeck (R)
 
District 3 Senate:
Rep. Carl Perry (R)
Katie Washnok (R)
 
District 3 House:
Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer (R)
Sen. Al Novstrup (R)
Erin Rudner (D)
 
District 4 Senate:
Rep. Fred Deutsch (R)
Rep. Stephanie Sauder (R)
 
District 4 House:
Barbara Guenette (R)
Dylan Jordan (R)
Kent Roe (R)
Vanessa Namken (R)
 
District 5 Senate:
Glen Vilhauer (R)
Russell Ronke (D)
 
District 5 House:
Rep. Bryon Callies (R)
Josephine Garcia (R)|
Matt Roby (R)
Diane Drake (D)
Amy Rambow (D)
 
District 6 Senate:
Rep. Ernie Otten (R)
 
District 6 House:
Rep. Aaron Aylward (R)
Sen. Herman Otten (R)
Wendi Hogan (R)
Garret Campbell (D)
 
District 7 Senate:
Sen. Tim Reed (R)
Patty Bacon (D)
 
District 7 House:
Rep. Mellissa Heermann (R)
Rep. Roger DeGroot (R)
Jeffrey Struwe (R)
Penny Hauffe (D)
Cole Sartell (D)

District 8 Senate:
Sen. Casey Crabtree (R)
Rick Weible (R)
 
District 8 House:
Rep. Tim Reisch (R)
Tim Walburg (R)
Matt Wagner (R)
 
District 9 Senate:
Joy Hohn (R)
Mark Willadsen (R)
 
District 9 House:
Rep. Bethany Soye (R)
Daryl Christensen (R)
Kristi Golden (R)
Test Schwans (R)
Beverly Froslie Johnson (D)
 
District 10 Senate:
Rep. Liz Larson (D)
 
District 10 House:
Rep. Erin Healy (D)
Rep. Kameron Nelson (D)
Bobbi Andera (R)
 
District 11 Senate:
Rep. Chris Karr (R)
Steve Natz (D)
 
District 11 House:
Rep. Brian Mulder (R)
Keri Weems (R)
John Kunnari (R)
Bill Linsenmeyer (R)
Aaron Matson (D)
Sonja Mentzer (D)
 
District 12 Senate:
Sen. Arch Beal (R)
Clay Hoffman (D)
 
District 12 House:
Rep. Amber Arlint (R)
Rep. Greg Jamison (R)
Manny Steele (R)
JR Anderson (D)
Erin Royer (D)
 
District 13 Senate:
Rep. Sue Peterson (R)
Ali Rae Horsted (D)
 
District 13 House:
Brad Jankord (R)
Rep. Tony Venhuizen (R)
Penny Baybridge (R)
John Hughes (R)
 
District 14 Senate:
Sen. Larry Zikmund (R)
Sandra Henry (D)
 
District 14 House:
Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt (R)
Rep. Tyler Tordsen (R)
Tony Kayser (R)
Keith Block (D)
B.J. Motley (D)
 
District 15 Senate:
Jamie Smith (D)
Brenda Lawrence (R)

District 15 House:
Rep. Kadyn Wittman (D)
Erik Muckey (D)
Brad Lindwurm (R)
Joni Tschetter (R)
 
District 16 Senate:
Rep. Kevin Jensen (R)
Eric Hohman (R)
 
District 16 House:
Rep. Karla Lems (R)
Richard Vasgaard (R)
Brian Burge (R)
Matthew Carl Ness (D)
 
District 17 Senate:
Sen. Sydney Davis (R)
Jeffrey Church (R)
 
District 17 House:
Rep. Chris Kassin (R)
Rep. Will Shorma (R)
Robin Schiro (R)
Carson Merkwan (R)
Ray Ring (D)
 
District 18 Senate:
Sen. Jean Hunhoff (R)
Lauren Nelson (R)
Dennis Menke (D)
 
District 18 House:
Rep. Julie Auch (R)
Rep. Mike Stevens (R)
John Marquardt (R)
Sarah Mechtenberg (D)
 
District 19 Senate:
Sen. Kyle Schoenfish (R)
 
District 19 House:
Rep. Jessica Bahmuller (R)
Rep. Drew Peterson (R)
Steven Mettler (R)

District 20 Senate:
Gary Steichen (D)
Paul Miskimins (R)
 
District 20 House:
Rep. Ben Krohmer (R)
Jeff Bathke (R)
 
District 21 Senate:
Sen. Erin Tobin (R)
Mykala Voita (R)
Dan Andersson (D)
 
District 21 House:
Rep. Marty Overweg (R)
Lee Qualm (R)
Jim Halverson (R)
 
District 22 Senate:
Sen. David Wheeler (R)
Jim Schmidt (D)
 
District 22 House:
Lana Greenfield (R)
Kevin Van Diepen (R)
Terry Nebelsick (R)
 
District 23 Senate:
Mark Lapka (R)
Steven Roseland (R)
 
District 23 House:
Rep. Scott Moore (R)
Rep. JD Wangness (R)
Spencer Gosch (R)
 
District 24 Senate:
Sen. Jim Mehlhaff (R)
 
District 24 House:
Rep. Mike Weisgram (R)
Rep. Will Mortenson (R)

District 25 Senate:
Sen. Tom Pischke (R)
Jordan Youngberg (R)
Brian Wirth (D)
 
District 25 House:
Rep. Jon Hansen (R)
Les Heinemann (R)
 
District 26 Senate:
Sen. Shawn Bordeaux (D)
Tamara Grove (R)
 
District 26A House:
Rep. Eric Emery (D)
Ron Frederick (R)
 
District 26B House:
Rep. Rebecca Reimer (R)
 
District 27 Senate:
Sen. Red Dawn Foster (D)
Gerald Cournoyer (D)
Anthony Kahol (R)
Bruce Whalen (R)
 
District 27 House:
Rep. Liz May (R)
Rep. Peri Pourier (D)
Elsie Meeks (D)
 
District 28 Senate:
Sam Marty (R)
Dean Schrempp (D)

District 28A House:
Sen. Ryan Maher (R)
Jana Hunt (R)
Carl Petersen (D)
 
District 28B House:
Travis Ismay (R)
Travis Martin (R)
 
District 29 Senate:
Rep. Kirk Chaffee (R)
John Carley (R)
 
District 29 House:
Rep. Gary Cammack (R)
Kathy Rice (R)
Aaron Schrader (R)
Terri Jorgenson (R)
 
District 30 Senate:
Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller (R)
Amber Hulse (R)
Forrest Foster (R)
Bret Swanson (D)
 
District 30 House:
Rep. Trish Ladner (R)
Tim Goodwin (R)
Stephen Saint (R)
Matthew Monfore (R)
Matt Smith (R)
Pat Baumann (R)
Susan Scheirbeck (D)
 
District 31 Senate:
Sen. Randy Deibert (R)
Katie Crowley-Johnson (R)
 
District 31 House:
Rep. Scott Odenbach (R)
Rep. Mary Fitzgerald (R)
Mark Mowry (R)Bottom of Form
 
District 32 Senate:
Sen. Helene Duhamel (R)
 
District 32 House:
Rep. Steve Duffy (R)
John Robert James (R)
Brook Kaufman (R)
Nichole Uhre-Balk (D)
 
District 33 Senate:
Sen. David Johnson (R)
Curt Voight (R)
 
District 33 House:
Rep. Curt Massie (R)
Rep. Phil Jensen (R)
 
District 34 Senate:
Taffy Howard (R)
Jason Green (R)
Michael Calabrese (D)
 
District 34 House:
Rep. Becky Drury (R)
Rep. Mike Derby (R)
Heather Baxter (R)
 
District 35 Senate:
Sen. Michael Walsh (R)
Greg Blanc (R)
Curtis Nupen (R)
 
District 35 House:
Rep. Tina Mulally (R)
Rep. Tony Randolph (R)
Pat Cromwell (D)
Jason Lind (D)