“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)
Please pray and take action on these bills this morning. Thank you!
Alcohol on SD College Campuses
SB102, An Act to allow certain alcoholic beverage licenses and special event alcoholic beverage licenses to be issued on certain lands and facilities located on state educational institution campuses, will be heard in the House Commerce and Energy Committee, today, February 29. SB102 would allow beer and wine sales at the state’s public universities for special events. This bill passed in the Senate, and now we must defeat it in this Committee. We believe allowing the sale of alcohol beverages at college events would be irresponsible. Rather, efforts should be made to reduce the availability of alcohol on our college campuses.
ACTION: E-mail members of the Commerce and Energy Committee and urge them to “Oppose SB102.” Click on the member’s name when you go here. You may provide a brief reason for your position.
SDHSAA Transgender Policy
HB1112, An Act to establish certain procedures regarding a transgender policy for the purposes of participation in high school activities and to declare void any present transgender policy of any association recognized under chapter 13-36, will be heard in the Senate Education Committee perhaps on Thursday, March 1. HB1112 has passed in the House with a vote of 45-23.
HB1112 provides a transgender policy adopted by the South Dakota High School Activities Association must be consented by the Legislature. It voids the current policy and states that a student’s sex is determined by the student’s chromosomes and the sex indicated on the birth certificate.
ACTION: E-mail the members of the Senate Education Committee and urge them to “support HB1112.” Also e-mail your Senator with the same message. You may provide a brief and respectful reason for your position. We specifically need to target Sen. Curd (R-Dist. 12-Sioux Falls), Sen. Solano (R-Dist. 32-Rapid City) and Sen. Rampelberg (R-Dist. 30-Rapid City). In addition, phone the Senate lobby and leave a message for your Senator at (605) 773-3821.
Informed Consent Bill – Chemical Abortion
HB1157, An Act to require that a doctor provide a woman additional information as a part of informed consent prior to performing an abortion, will be heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee today, February 29.
HB1157 involves the two-drug abortion regimen commonly referred to as RU-486. The bill requires that the abortion-minded woman be told that if she should change her mind after taking the first drug, Mifeprostone, it is still possible to save her baby’s life by not taking the second drug, Misoprostol. RU-486, a chemical abortion, is different than a surgical abortion in that the mother is self-aborting which may cause some anguish and cause her to change her mind. Informed consent provides the mother with better decision-making options.
ACTION: E-mail your Senator and ask him to “support HB1157, the informed consent bill.” Contact members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and also your Senator. In addition, phone the Senate lobby at (605) 773-3821 and leave a message for your senator.
Sale of Fetal Body Parts
SB24, An Act to prohibit the sale of fetal body parts and to provide a penalty therefor, will be heard in the House State Affairs Committee today, February 29. SB24 is brought at the request of Attorney General Jackley in response to the undercover videos produced by the Center for Medical Progress exposing the horrific harvesting and sale of fetal body parts.
Our current state law prohibits for-profit sale of fetal remains. SB24 tightens up the law by providing a penalty for the violation.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and action!