Freedom Index

A Legislative Scorecard Based on the Principles of the U.S. Constitution

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

Good Vote: Yes

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

Good Vote: Yes

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

Good Vote: No

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

Good Vote: No

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

Good Vote: Yes

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

Good Vote: No

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.

Legislator Scores
[ + ] Pro-liberty Vote[ - ] Anti-liberty Vote[ . ] Did not Vote
Name Party District Score 123456
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%