South Dakota House of Representatives

The South Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Dakota Legislature. It consists of 70 members, two from each legislative district. Two of the state's 35 legislative districts, Districts 26 and 28, are each subdivided into two single-member districts (26A/26B and 28A/28B). The South Dakota House of Representatives meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre.

South Dakota
House of Representatives
South Dakota Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
4 terms (8 years)
History
New session started
January 10, 2023
Leadership
Hugh Bartels (R)
since January 10, 2023
Speaker pro tempore
Mike Stevens (R)
since January 10, 2023
Majority Leader
Will Mortenson (R)
since January 10, 2023
Minority Leader
Oren Lesmeister (D)
since January 10, 2023
Structure
Seats70
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (63)

Minority

Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle III, South Dakota Constitution
Salary$12,850.80/session + $151 per legislative day [a] [1]
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
Next election
November 5, 2024
RedistrictingLegislative Control
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
South Dakota State Capitol
Pierre, South Dakota
Website
South Dakota State Legislature

Composition

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District 26A primarily represents the Rosebud Reservation, while 28A represents the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River reservations.
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
Start of 90th Legislature (2015) 58 12 70 0
Start of 92nd Legislature (2017) 60 10 70 0
June 27, 2017[b] 59 69 1
September 5, 2017[b] 60 70 0
November 23, 2017[c] 59 69 1
Start of 94th Legislature (2019) 59 11 70 0
Start of 96th Legislature (2021) 62 8 70 0
Start of 98th Legislature (2023) 63 7 70 0
November 13, 2023[d] 62 69 1
January 16, 2024[d] 69 1
February 10, 2024[d] 63 70 0
Latest voting share 90% 10%

Leadership

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Position Name Party District
Speaker of the House Hugh Bartels Republican 5
Speaker pro tempore Mike Stevens Republican 18
Majority Leader Will Mortenson Republican 24
Assistant Majority Leader Taylor Rehfeldt Republican 14
Majority Whips Rocky Blare Republican 21
Gary Cammack Republican 29
Kirk Chafee Republican 29
Becky Drury Republican 34
James Wangsness Republican 23
Minority Leader Oren Lesmeister Democratic 28A
Assistant Minority Leader Erin Healy Democratic 10
Minority Whip Kameron Nelson Democratic 10
Peri Pourier Democratic 27

Members of the House for the 2023 Legislative Session

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District Representative Party Residence Since
1st Joe Donnell Republican Sisseston 2023
Tamara St. John Republican Sisseston 2019
2nd David Kull Republican Brandon 2023
John Sjaarda Republican Valley Springs 2023
3rd Brandei Schaefbauer Republican Aberdeen 2023
Carl E. Perry Republican Aberdeen 2019
4th Stephanie Sauder Republican Bryant 2023
Fred Deutsch Republican Florence 2019
5th Hugh Bartels Republican Watertown 2017
Byron Callies Republican Watertown 2023
6th Aaron Aylward Republican Harrisburg 2021
Ernie Otten Republican Tea 2021
7th Mellissa Heermann Republican Brookings 2023
Roger DeGroot Republican Brookings 2023
8th John Mills Republican Volga 2017
Tim Reisch Republican Howard 2023
9th Bethany Soye Republican Sioux Falls 2021
Kenneth Teunissen Republican Sioux Falls 2023
10th Erin Healy Democratic Sioux Falls 2019
Kameron Nelson Democratic Sioux Falls 2023
11th Brian Mulder Republican Sioux Falls 2023
Chris Karr Republican Sioux Falls 2017
12th Amber Arlint Republican Sioux Falls 2023
Greg Jamison Republican Sioux Falls 2021
13th Sue Peterson Republican Sioux Falls 2017
Tony Venhuizen Republican Sioux Falls 2023
14th Taylor Rehfeldt Republican Sioux Falls 2021
Tyler Tordsen Republican Sioux Falls 2023
15th Kadyn Wittman Democratic Sioux Falls 2023
Linda Duba Democratic Sioux Falls 2019
16th Karla Lems Republican Hudson 2023
Kevin Jensen Republican Canton 2017
17th William Shorma Republican Dakota Dunes 2023
Chris Kassin Republican Vermillion 2023
18th Mike Stevens Republican Yankton 2021
Julie Auch Republican Yankton 2023
19th Drew Peterson Republican Salem 2023
Jessica Bahmuller Republican Alexandria 2023
20th Lance Koth Republican Mitchell 2019
Ben Krohmer Republican Mitchell 2023
21st Rocky Blare Republican Ideal 2021
Marty Overweg Republican New Holland 2020
22nd Roger D. Chase Republican Huron 2017
Lynn Schneider Republican Sioux Falls 2020
23rd James D. Wangsness Republican Miller 2023
Scott Moore Republican Ipswich 2023
24th Will Mortenson Republican Pierre 2021
Mike Weisgram Republican Fort Pierre 2021
25th Randy Gross Republican Elkton 2019
Jon Hansen Republican Dell Rapids 2019
26A Eric Emery Democratic Rosebud 2023
26B Rebecca Reimer Republican Chamberlain 2018
27th Liz May Republican Kyle 2021
Peri Pourier Democratic Pine Ridge 2019
28A Oren Lesmeister Democratic Parade 2017
28B Neil Pinnow Republican Lemmon 2023
29th Gary Cammack Republican Union Center 2023
Kirk Chaffee Republican Whitewood 2019
30th Trish Ladner Republican Hot Springs 2021
Dennis Krull Republican Hill City 2023
31st Mary Fitzgerald Republican Spearfish 2021
Scott Odenbach Republican Spearfish 2021
32nd Steve Duffy Republican Rapid City 2023
Kristin Conzet Republican Rapid City 2024
33rd Curt Massie Republican Rapid City 2023
Phil Jensen Republican Rapid City 2021
34th Mike Derby Republican Rapid City 2021
Becky Drury Republican Rapid City 2021
35th Tina Mulally Republican Rapid City 2019
Tony Randolph Republican Rapid City 2019

Diversity among representatives

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In 2022, Democrat Kameron Nelson from District 10 became the first openly gay man elected to South Dakota's state house. He was sworn in in 2023.[8]

Past composition of the House of Representatives

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Legislative pay must be one-fifth of median household income of South Dakota
  2. ^ a b Don Haggar (R–10) resigned on June 27, 2017, to become the leader of the South Dakota chapter of Americans for Prosperity.[2] Sioux Falls former police chief Doug Barthel (R) was appointed to replace Haggar in September.[3]
  3. ^ Craig Tieszen (R–34) died in November 2022 in a kayak accident.[4]
  4. ^ a b c Jess Olson (R–34) resigned on November 13, 2023, for health reasons.[5] Incumbent legislator Becky Drury (R–32) was appointed to succeed Olson in January 2024 after moving districts.[6] Kristin Conzet (R) was then appointed in February 2024 to fill the vacancy left by Drury in the 32nd district.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "S.D. Legislators' salary raise strains budget". November 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Toay, Adel (June 27, 2017). "Don Haggar Resigns From State Legislature, Moving To SD Americans For Prosperity". Dakota News Now. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Ferguson, Dana (September 5, 2017). "Ex-police chief appointed to District 10 House seat in Sioux Falls". USA Today. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  4. ^ Huber, Chris (November 23, 2017). "State Rep. Craig Tieszen dies in kayak accident". Rapid City Journal. Archived from the original on August 31, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  5. ^ "South Dakota representative announces resignation". Dakota News Now. November 13, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Huber, Makenzie (January 16, 2024). "Noem appoints current legislator to vacant Rapid City seat". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  7. ^ Hult, John (February 12, 2024). "Noem appoints business owner, former sheriff's deputy to state Senate seat". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  8. ^ Matzen, Morgan (November 9, 2022). "Kameron Nelson is first openly gay man elected to South Dakota Legislature". Argus Leader. Retrieved November 17, 2023.