Legislative Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution
The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.
Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)
Legislative Scorecard
Based on the U.S. Constitution
SD Scorecard 2025
The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.
Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)
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
1. Parental Rights Affirmation
SB113 Parental Rights Affirmation (Passed 31 to 4 on 3/12/2025). Affirms that a parent's right to care for and make decisions for his or her child is a fundamental liberty.
2. CO2 Eminent Domain Prevention
HB1052 CO2 Eminent Domain Prevention (Passed 23 to 12 on 3/4/2025). 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.
3. Childcare Assistance Program
HB1132 Childcare Assistance Program (Passed 20 to 14 on 3/4/2025). Enacts a childcare assistance program to allow certain childcare workers to qualify for help with their own childcare costs.
4. Con-Con - Term Limits
HJR5002 Con-Con - Term Limits (Passed 25 to 10 on 3/4/2025). 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.
5. Defend the Guard
SB82 Defend the Guard (Rejected 6 to 29 on 2/3/2025). Requires an official declaration of war or other congressional action before the South Dakota National Guard may be deployed by the federal government.
6. Federal Rule Adoption
SB1 Federal Rule Adoption (Passed 35 to 0 on 1/22/2025). Updates the state's adoption of federal motor carrier safety and hazardous materials regulations to include all changes made through January 1, 2025.
| Name | Party | District | Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arch Beal | R | SD-012 | 33% | + | - | + | - | - | - |
| Greg Blanc | R | SD-035 | 50% | + | + | + | - | - | - |
| John Carley | R | SD-029 | 83% | + | + | + | + | + | - |
| Casey Crabtree | R | SD-008 | 17% | + | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sydney Davis | R | SD-017 | 17% | + | - | - | - | - | - |
| Randy Deibert | R | SD-031 | 33% | - | + | - | + | - | - |
| Helene Duhamel | R | SD-032 | 33% | + | - | - | + | - | - |
| Red Dawn Foster | D | SD-027 | 33% | - | + | - | - | + | - |
| Tamara Grove | R | SD-026 | 33% | + | + | - | - | - | - |
| Joy Hohn | R | SD-009 | 67% | + | + | + | + | - | - |
| Taffy Howard | R | SD-034 | 67% | + | + | + | - | + | - |
| Amber Hulse | R | SD-030 | 50% | + | + | - | + | - | - |
| Kevin D. Jensen | R | SD-016 | 50% | + | + | + | - | - | - |
| Chris Karr | R | SD-011 | 50% | + | + | + | - | - | - |
| Steve Kolbeck | R | SD-002 | 17% | + | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mark Lapka | R | SD-023 | 67% | + | + | + | + | - | - |
| Liz Larson | D | SD-010 | 33% | - | + | - | + | - | - |
| Sue Peterson | R | SD-013 | 50% | + | + | + | - | - | - |
| Sam Marty | R | SD-028 | 67% | + | + | + | - | + | - |
| Jim Mehlhaff | R | SD-024 | 17% | + | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paul R. Miskimins | R | SD-020 | 17% | + | - | - | - | - | - |
| Lauren Nelson | R | SD-018 | 67% | + | + | + | + | - | - |
| Ernie Otten | R | SD-006 | 50% | + | + | + | - | - | - |
| Herman Otten | R | SD-006 | NA | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| Carl E. Perry | R | SD-003 | 33% | + | + | - | - | - | - |
| Tom Pischke | R | HD-025 | 67% | + | + | + | - | + | - |
| Tim Reed | R | SD-007 | 17% | + | - | - | - | - | - |
| Michael Rohl | R | SD-001 | 33% | + | + | - | - | - | - |
| Stephanie Sauder | R | SD-004 | 17% | + | - | - | - | - | - |
| Kyle Schoenfish | R | SD-019 | 17% | + | - | - | - | - | - |
| Jamie Smith | D | SD-015 | 33% | - | + | - | + | - | - |
| Glen Vilhauer | R | SD-005 | 17% | + | - | - | - | - | - |
| Curt Voight | R | SD-033 | 40% | + | + | . | - | - | - |
| Mykala Voita | R | SD-021 | 83% | + | + | + | + | + | - |
| David Wheeler | R | SD-022 | 17% | + | - | - | - | - | - |
| Larry P. Zikmund | R | SD-014 | 33% | + | + | - | - | - | - |
Average Constitutional Score by Party
| Party | Score |
|---|---|
| Republican | 40.9% |
| Democrat | 33% |