Columns from our legislators

Week 1 Recap from Senator Tom Pischke:

            2023 is here and that means a new legislative session is upon us!  I am Senator Tom Pischke, I live in Dell Rapids, SD and I will be again writing a weekly column to keep you up to date on important legislative items.   Our first week of the new session has been filled with information gathering and speeches.  On Tuesday, January 10th we heard the State of the State address from Governor Noem.  Wednesday, January 11th, we listened in on the State of the Judiciary delivered by the Chief Justice Jensen and finally on Thursday, January 12th we heard the State of the Tribes address.

            This will likely be another eventful legislative session that has it’s unique issues.  Along with a record amount of budget decisions that need to be made, there will also be discussions on CO2 / eminent domain reform, strengthening our Pro-Life laws after the reversal of the Roe v Wade decision and election integrity.  At this point in time, I only have 1 piece of Legislation out on www.sdlegislature.gov and that is SB 60 which is an appropriation for completing improvements of the road leading to the former entrance into Palisades State Park.  I will keep you updated on this progress in the weeks to follow.

            If you are interested in following along with any of our committees or chambers this session, there are two great ways to do that.  First, isit www.sdlegislature.gov as this is the Legislature's home page where you can find any information about session that you are looking for.  On the front page you will find a schedule of committees and when the House and Senate will be meeting and what's on the agenda for each meeting.  You can also find listings of all the bills that we will be working on this session.  Additionally, if you want to listen into a committee or chamber you can click on the South Dakota Public Broadcasting icon next to that scheduled meeting to listen live.  The Second way to listen and watch is to visit www.SD.Net where you can find all the live audio from the committees and the live audio and video streams from the House and Senate Chambers.

            Finally, if you have any questions about how to find information about a bill or committee, or any questions at all about session please contact me.  I can be reached most anytime by phone at 605-999-2948 and by email at .  If you do call and I’m unable to answer, try sending me a text and I will call you back later.  Additionally, if you email please include that you are from District 25 and what town you're from.  We get 100s of emails a day and I cannot reply back to them all, but if I know that you are from our district, I will get back to you!  Lastly, if you are planning a trip up to the Capitol for a visit during session please let me know so that we can find a time to meet up while you are here!  Have a great week and God Bless!

Week 1 South Dakota Legislature Report 2023 Session 25th District

Representative Randy Gross

            I wish to again thank the citizens of Moody and Minnehaha counties for the honor of serving in the South Dakota House of Representatives on your behalf.  Redistricting has changed district boundaries but has not changed my dedication to serving all South Dakotans.  After serving four years on the Appropriations Committee, my duties will change this session.  I now serve on the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and am Vice-Chair of the House Transportation Committee.  In addition, as a Veteran, I am honored to serve on the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.  

            At the beginning of each Legislative Session, I reflect on ways I can best represent the people of the 25th District.  Last year, more than 450 bills and resolutions were introduced on topics ranging from agriculture, education, health care and many others.  Before this 2023 session even began, there were many bills pre-filed, also covering a wide range of issues.

            Even the most experienced legislator can't be an expert on every topic.  However, we all need to be diligent in gathering good information from those who are best informed.  The more people I meet, the more I am impressed with the quality, dedication, and diversity of our citizen legislature. Those serving in Pierre offer a wide range of talent and expertise on issues. 

            Fortunately, it is easy for South Dakotans to keep up with the legislative process and to communicate with legislators.  An excellent starting point is the Legislative Research Council (LRC) website www.sdlegislature.gov  It provides comprehensive information on bills, committee agendas and minutes, and floor action.  You can read the texts of bills and resolutions, see when they are scheduled for committee hearing and find out what amendments may have been offered and/or approved.  You can listen to committee discussion and floor debate and see how legislators vote.

            When communicating with legislators, there are a few points to remember.  We are elected to represent the people of our district.  Emails, messages, and letters from those in the 25th District receive more attention than those from outside the district.  Anonymous emails and those from out-of-state groups generally receive limited attention.  Phone calls are difficult to receive and return as our phones are turned off/silent during committee and session activities.

            Emails should not be lengthy.  It's enough to identify the issue (use the bill number if you know it) and explain briefly how it impacts you.

            Copy and paste emails and those where you simply put your name on something someone else composed are NOT effective. It is far better to explain one or two key points in your own words about why you support or oppose a measure.

            Also remember that we have a diverse district and legislators are usually hearing from constituents on both sides of any controversial issue.  Therefore, it is helpful if you can point out unintended effects, if you can offer supported, technical information or if you can offer solutions.  If you have constructive suggestions or workable alternatives, please let us know.

            Since it is early in the session, bills are just beginning the process of working their way through committees.  Committees meet in the mornings and the full House and Senate each meet in the afternoon. 

            On Tuesday Governor Noem presented her State of the State address. On Wednesday we heard the State of the Judiciary address from the Chief Justice Jensen and on Thursday we heard the State of the Tribes address from Crow Creek Tribal Chairman Peter Lengkeek.  Each of those presentations is available in the South Dakota Public Broadcasting archives.

            Next week the pace will pick up as bills and resolutions will begin making their way to either the House or Senate for action.  I will work to stay informed about actions impacting the 25th District and our entire state.

            Please remember, this is your government, and all citizens are welcome to visit the Capital and testify on bills or simply observe the process.  I can be contacted at .

Carbon Sequestration Pipelines and Eminent Domain - Rep. Jon Hansen Week 1 Legislative Update

Representative Jon Hansen (R-Dell Rapids)

            Greetings, this is Representative Jon Hansen, bringing you an update from the legislative session. We’ve just concluded the first week of the session, and I’ve already received a lot of correspondence regarding the proposed carbon sequestration pipelines that big pipeline companies are looking to bury across the land of many South Dakota landowners.

            For a bit of background, the pipeline proposals involve connecting carbon pipelines to ethanol plants to capture CO2 emissions. The CO2 is compressed, transported via the pipeline, and buried in the ground. These projects are major initiatives of the Biden-Harris Administration, whose stated reasoning is to, “tackle the climate crisis,” and are being subsidized by billions of our federal tax dollars.

            Summit Carbon Solutions, one of the pipeline companies, funded by big out-of-state and foreign investors, has already sued landowners in South Dakota to access farmland without landowner permission. The pipeline company has also already begun eminent domain proceedings for the same pipeline project in other states in order to take and use landowners’ property without their consent.  Many are concerned that it’s only a matter of time before similar eminent domain proceedings are filed to take and use land without landowner consent here in South Dakota.

            Carbon pipeline safety concerns have arisen after a carbon pipeline burst in Mississippi in 2020, sending 45 people to the hospital. One concerned constituent told me that her son’s home is within one eighth of the mile of the proposed pipeline route, and she’s worried about the safety of her family.  Another email shared safety concerns about a family’s driveway located only 200 feet from the proposed pipeline in South Dakota.

            On this issue, my focus this legislative session will be on protecting the private property rights of South Dakotans. I will be co-sponsoring legislation to ensure that, when it comes to deciding what land is used for, South Dakota landowners decide, not big CO2 pipeline companies.

            Private property ownership is fundamental to our liberty, and core to private property rights is your ability to exclude others from using your property without your consent. You would struggle to find a more fundamental American tenet than the one of autonomy over one’s owned land.

            Section One of the South Dakota Bill of Rights states that “All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring and protecting property and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

            Our state’s founders understood that private property was so fundamental to freedom that they acknowledged the inherent right to “acquiring and protecting property” in the very first section of our South Dakota Bill of Rights. Not only that, but the founders recognized that it is the purpose of government to ensure that the inherent property rights of our citizens are secure. 

            As your representative in the State House, I will always defend the inherent property rights of the farmers and landowners in our district and across South Dakota. When legislation is considered on the subject of eminent domain and carbon sequestration pipelines, I will vote to ensure that South Dakota landowners—not carbon pipeline companies—have the final say on whether a carbon pipeline crosses their land.