We are pleased to report that the age verification bill that the “summer study” has been researching has passed! After hearing hours of testimony, and by a unanimous vote, the committee voted to support the bill (HB1257) sponsored by Rep. Bethany Soye and Sen. Red Dawn Foster.
Thank the Lord, you can disregard the email I sent out last night. Instead of asking the committee to vote to protect South Dakota children, we will now be thanking them.
Sadly, however, we will have lost a whole year where our children could have been protected. We look forward to the bill passing in the next legislative session.
As you may recall, Concerned Women for America (CWA) of South Dakota worked diligently on the age verification bill, HB1257, which failed in the Senate early this year after receiving strong support in the House. Read more about the bill in our Spring Newsletter.
A special thank you to Lisa Gennaro, CWA of South Dakota’s Legislative Liaison, for representing us as she testified before the committee yesterday in Pierre. Listen to her heartfelt testimony here, starting at marker 41:40.
HB1257 requires pornographic websites to require age verification. We believe that websites producing and hosting explicit content must have a measure of responsibility.
Action: Please contact the committee members and thank them for working to protect children by passing the age verification bill. Include that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of South Dakota.
Members of the committee:
Sen. Steve Kolbeck steven.t.kolbeck@xcelenergy.com
Sen. Duhamel Helene.duhamel@sdlegislature.gov
Sen. Red Dawn Foster reddawn.foster@sdlegislature.gov
Sen. Liz Larson liz.larson@sdlegislature.gov
Sen. Jim Mehlhaff jim.mehlhaff@sdlegislature.gov
Sen. Michael Walsh mike.walsh@sdlegislature.gov
Sen. David Wheeler David.wheeler@sdlegislature.gov
Rep. Mike Weisgram mike.weisgram@gmail.com
Rep. Amber Arlint amber.arlint@sdlegislature.gov
Rep. Byron Callies econprof48@hotmail.com
Rep. Steve Duffy steve.duffy@sdlegislature.gov
Rep. Eric Emery eric.emery@sdlegislature.gov
Rep. Chris Karr chris.karr@sdlegislature.gov
Rep. Bethany Soye Bethany.soye@sdlegislature.gov
Rep. Tony Venhuizen tony.venhuizen@sdlegislature.gov
It is imperative that we continue to protect our children from pornography. It distorts their view of what God intended for sexuality and relationships. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20) In addition, the Constitution allows for such protection.
Prayer: Father, You created sexuality to be a beautiful expression in the confines of a loving relationship between a husband and wife. Forgive us for our rebellion from Your created design. Help us protect our children from the distortion the enemy brings. Help our laws and adults who love our children to shield them from this evil and teach them Your plan for healthy relationships. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Linda Schauer
State Director
CWA of South Dakota