It’s a privilege to represent your voice each week at the State Capitol. Your prayer and action does make a difference! Here is the legislative recap for week four of the session. Please note the prayer and action requests.
Opposition to Proposed Abortion Constitutional Amendment
HCR6008 is a good resolution opposing the initiated measure to place the “right” to abortion in the Constitution of South Dakota. (A Resolution has no legal weight; it merely expresses the sense of the legislature.) In addition, the resolution gets the pro-life message in the media. All pro-lifers should read through the resolution and even print it out so you can explain to others how bad this initiated measure is should it get on the ballot.
PRAY that the “Dakotans for Health” will not get the required 35,000 valid signatures to get it on the ballot and that South Dakota can remain a pro-life state.
“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139: 13)
Video Lottery
SB172 would increase the dollar limit on video lottery. Concerned Women for America (CWA) of South Dakota has always opposed the expansion of video lottery. Video lottery is the “crack cocaine” of gambling in that it is highly addictive. The addiction leads to crime, the breakdown of the family, and suicide. SB172 will be heard in the Senate Commerce and Energy Committee this Tuesday, February 6. If you know of someone who has experienced this addiction, you could email the committee members and tell them the story. A recent article from the Keystone Treatment Center provides more information here.
TAKE ACTION! Contact your state senator using our Action Center and ask them to OPPOSE SB172.
Child Pornography
SB79 is an Act to revise provisions related to the possession, distribution, and manufacture of child pornography. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), child pornography is being computer-generated, but real children are being victimized. SB79 defines possession, distribution, and manufacture of child porn and provides tougher mandatory minimum sentences. SB72 passed unanimously in committee and the full Senate. SB79 passed unanimously in the House Judiciary Committee, and we expect a strong vote in the House next week.
School Library Bill
HB1237, an Act to establish provisions related to the rating of books available in school districts, is a good bill. It would establish a rating system that is age and grade-appropriate with criteria described in the bill and allows parental involvement. It has been assigned to the House Education Committee but has not yet been scheduled. Pray now for the passage of this good bill.
God bless you for your prayer and action.
Linda Schauer
State Director