The 2023 South Dakota legislative session begins on January 10, 2023
The South Dakota Catholic Conference supports passage of HB 1116, which would prohibit the use of any state funding or state resources, including public school district resources, for promoting or hosting content that is lewd and lascivious. The bill defines “lewd and lascivious” as including obscene live conduct that appeals Read more…
The South Dakota Catholic Conference opposes House Joint Resolution 5006, which seeks to amend the state constitution to permit mobile sports betting throughout the state. The Catholic Church does not understand games of chance to be inherently wrong in every instance. However, very serious concerns arise in the context of Read more…
The South Dakota Catholic Conference supports passage of HB 1129, which would establish certain safeguards in South Dakota’s medical marijuana program to protect patient safety and prevent abuses. The use of marijuana for medical purposes was legalized when voters approved Initiated Measure 26 in 2020. The Church teaches, “The use Read more…
The South Dakota Catholic Conference supports passage of SCR 602, a legislative resolution that affirms support for the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the high court’s 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade and its creation of a national entitlement to abortion. Regarding Read more…
The South Dakota Catholic Conference opposes passage of SB 117, a bill that would double the amount of money that can be spent on a video lottery machine game, from two dollars to four dollars, and increase the award amount per bet from $1,000 to $2,500. While games of chance Read more…
The South Dakota Catholic Conference supports passage of SB 75, which modifies existing laws related to parental support for a child born out of wedlock. SB 75 provides that both the father and mother are jointly responsible for paying the expenses related to pregnancy or prenatal care for the child, Read more…
The South Dakota Catholic Conference opposes passage of SB 57, which would limit the ability of students receiving alternative instruction (e.g., homeschooled students) to participate in school district activities such as athletics and fine arts. SB 57 would reverse a key component of SB 177, a 2021 enactment supported by Read more…
The South Dakota Catholic Conference supports the passage of House Bill 1080. This legislation, often referred to as the “Help Not Harm” bill, would prohibit medical providers from prescribing puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones, or conducting mutilating surgeries on a child who has emotional distress surrounding his or her sex. HB Read more…