Here are ways you can take action in the legislative area.
Here’s how you can take action:
- Determine which district you live in: It is critical to know which district you live in so you can communicate with your lawmakers. Click here to find your legislative district.
- Email your legislators:We want to establish relationships with our legislators before the session begins. Please individually send your legislators
(1 Senator, 2 Representatives) a personalized email introducing them to your family.
- Tell them a little bit about you, your family, your homeschool and even include some pictures if you like.
- Stress how much you value your parental rights to determine the best upbringing and education for your children and how much you value the freedom that South Dakota offers.
- Tell them it’s important to you to have legislators who also value your parental rights.
- If you moved to SD seeking homeschool freedom, please let them know.
- If you have left the public schools, be sure to tell them why you made that decision.
- Keep it professional and cordial and thank them for their service to our state. IMPORTANT: Be sure to type “Constituent” in the subject line and conclude with your address and phone number in your signature.
Click here to find their emails. Click on their name and it will pull up contact information. Send 3 emails and put their numbers in your phone for quick contacts later.
- Get Your FREE Interactive SD Civics Guide:
Our Committee Members have worked hard to put together this interactive guide to help families learn more about civics in South Dakota.
Sign up below. We will only use your information to send you the link to the guide and for important action alerts specific to your district. No spam. Scroll down to get your guide.
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Get connected and spread the word:
- Make sure you’re getting our emails, sometimes they go to spam, mark them as important so they go to your inbox. Be sure to whitelist us in your email inbox.
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
- Spread the word. Make sure that everyone in your community is looped in and receiving updates.
- Partner with us and help provide the funds to pay for our lobbyist. DONATE HERE
These are great opportunities to meet and interact with your legislators. If you know of others not
Aberdeen | Cracker Barrel
Saturday, Jan. 27 | 10:00 am to noon
Saturday, Feb. 10 | 10:00 am to noon
Saturday, Feb. 24 | 10:00 am to noon
Location: Kessler’s Champions Club on the NSU Campus, intersection of South State St. & 15th Ave. SE
Host: Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce
Brandon (Dist. 2) | Legislative Coffee
Saturday, Jan. 20 | 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10 | 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Location: Bethany Meadows Community Room (332 S. Splitrock Blvd)
Host: Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce
Additional information: Questions accepted from in-person attendees; may also be pre-submitted to admin@brandonvalleychamber.com. Will be livestreamed on the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
Brookings (Dist. 7 and 8) | Legislative Coffees
Saturday, Jan. 27 | 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 9:30 a.m.
Location: City-County Government Center, 3rd Floor Chambers (520 3rd St.)
Host: Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce
Canton | Cracker Barrel
Saturday, Feb. 3 | 10:00 a.m. to noon
Location: The Canton Depot (600 W. 5th St.)
Host: Canton Chamber of Commerce
Huron | Legislative Coffee
Saturday, Jan. 27 | 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10 | 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 24 | 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Location: Huron City Hall (239 Wisconsin Ave SW)
Host: Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau
Mitchell | Cracker Barrel
Friday, Mar. 1 | Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Location: DWU School of Business, Innovation & Leadership (1200 W. University Ave. on the SE side of campus; in 103 Lecture Hall)
Host: Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce
Additional information: The session will be livestreamed on the Mitchell Chamber & Development Corporation Facebook page
Miller | Cracker Barrel
Saturday, Feb. 3 | 2:00-4:00 pm
Location: Miller Community Center (526 N. Broadway Ave.)
Host: On Hand Development Corporation
Pierre | On-Air Cracker Barrel Series & In-Person Legislative Coffee
On-Air Cracker Barrel Series:
Saturday, Jan. 27 | 9:00-9:30 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10 | 9:00-9:30 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 24 | 9:00-9:30 a.m
Saturday, Mar. 9 | 9:00-9:30 a.m.
Host: KCCR Radio (live from studio except February 24, which will be live from the Farm, Home & Sports Show).
Legislative Coffee:
Saturday, Feb. 10 | 10:00 -11:00 a.m.
Location: Chamber of Commerce Community Room (800 W. Dakota Ave.)
Host: Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce
Rapid City | Cracker Barrel
Saturday, Jan. 27 | 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Saturday, Mar. 2 | 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Location: Western Dakota Tech Event Center (800 Mickelson Dr.)
Host: Elevate Rapid City
Additional information: Each session may be attended in person -or- viewed via livestream on the Elevate Facebook page. If you are unable to attend in person but would like to submit a question and watch via live stream please click here. Watch previous cracker barrels on the Elevate Rapid City Youtube channel.
Sioux Falls | Legislative Coffees
Saturday, Jan. 27 | 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10 | 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 10:00 a.m.
Location: Augustana University in Hamre Hall located in the Humanities Building; parking available north of the Humanities Building off Grange Ave. near 30th St.
Host: League of Women Voters of Sioux Falls. Additional sponsors: AARP, SD Advocacy Network for Women, SFEA, Change Agents, LEAD, Media One, SD State Federation of Labor,
UFCW Local 304A, Augustana Democrats, and Augustana Republicans.
Additional information: Will be moderated. Written questions from the public will be accepted.
Vermillion | Legislative Coffee
Saturday, Feb. 10 | 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: City Hall-Council Chambers (25 Center St.)
Host: Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Co.
Additional information: Will be livestreamed on the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Co. Facebook page, and broadcast on Vermillion Midco Channel 3.
Watertown | Cracker Barrels
Saturday, Feb. 10 | 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Location: Codington County Extension Complex (1910 W. Kemp)
Host: Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, Mar. 9 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location: Watertown Home Show – Codington County Extension Complex (1910 W. Kemp)
Host: Watertown Area Home Builders Association
Yankton | Cracker Barrels
Saturday, Jan. 20 | 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10 | 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, Mar. 2 | 10:00 a.m.
Location: City Commission Room at CMTEA (1200 W. 21st St.); enter through the west door
Host: Yankton Thrive
Additional information: This is a facilitated event. Questions may be submitted prior to each event to thrive@yanktonsd.com, or by calling Yankton Thrive prior to the events at (605) 665-3636. Events will also be livestreamed on the Yankton Thrive Facebook page.
One advantage of living in South Dakota is the ability for the average person to engage with their legislators. Your legislators want to hear from you. Many issues are won because the average citizen wrote and submitted a letter to the local paper, wrote an email or letter, went to a Cracker Barrel/Legislative Coffee on a Saturday morning to talk to them, called them on the phone, or traveled to Pierre and visited with them on the chamber floor. Citizens are also welcome to attend committee hearings and to testify in person, online or over the phone.
Who are my legislators? Find my legislators — Type in your address to find your district and your legislators.
How do I learn about bills?
The South Dakota Legislature Research Council website is very accessible and easy to navigate. On the homepage, you will find buttons to help you locate critical information. The Legislators button will take you to their contact information. The Session button will take you to a list of bills that have been filed. Click on a bill and you can follow it through the process. The Chambers/Committees tab contains more specific information such as agendas, links to bills, links to the members, etc.
Here’s a hot tip: wherever you see a little bird, you can click and listen to testimony and debate, live or recorded. You can also watch videos of the general sessions for each chamber live on SDPB.org or SD.net . Recorded sessions are also available on YouTube. Search “SD Legislative Session 2023.”
If you want to follow a bill closely, sign up for MyLRC and you will receive notifications about the status of the bill.
How do I contact my legislators?
Simply find their contact info on their listing and give them a call or send an email. Remember to always be polite and professional. If you are a constituent mention that in the email header or right away when speaking. Put the bill number and the way you want them to vote on it in the subject line of the email. “No on Senate Bill 57.” Thank them for their service and taking the time to read your message. Even if they’re voting against us on a current bill we want to maintain a good working relationship for the future.