CLICK HERE for our LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION

Friends, I never get tired of saying "Thank you for standing with us and praying for us as together we advocate and legislate for LIFE." 

WEEK FIVE began here at the SD State Capitol. To date we have #570 Bills filed and some #27 Resolutions. This session has seen more bills introduced than the 527 measures filed in 2025. 

Currently…..SDRTL SUPPORTED or is SUPPORTING: 

• House Concurrent Resolution 6002 - 'Honoring the life and achievements of the late Charlie Kirk'.  This Resolution recently passed on the House Floor on a vote of 60 to 5 and on the Senate Floor on a vote of 31 to 2. 

• House Bill 1116 — Video Streaming Services…. “An Act to prohibit a video streaming service from transmitting certain advertising during children’s programming and provide a penalty therefor.”  Today’s media is pushing our children towards things that devalue life.  This bill pushes back on that trend. 
• We were disappointed this week when the House Floor rejected this legislation.

• House Bill 1127 - The Midwives & Birth Centers Bill:  “An Act to revise provisions related to birth centers and the practice of certified professional midwives at birth centers.”  This bill would have expanded the mileage that a birth center can be from a birthing hospital to allow the rural, underserved communities to receive perinatal services, hopefully improving maternal mortality and infant mortality. It also would have enabled Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) to supervise birth centers, a common practice across many other states. 
• We were disappointed this past week to see a House committee reject this legislation.

• House Bill 1153 - The Do No Harm Bill:  ”An Act to protect Certain rights of healthcare providers.” Doctors should never be forced to choose between their patient and their job. This Bill would add conscience protections into South Dakota law, and ensure that doctors are able to continue honoring their hippocratic oath to “do no harm.”  
• We were disappointed this week to when the House Floor rejected this legislation.

• House Bill 1182 - The Human Embryo Reporting Bill: ”An Act to establish a data collection system pertaining to assisted reproductive technology.” All lives have value and dignity INCLUDING at our earliest stage of development. If human life is going to be constructed in a laboratory, then frozen, researched or destroyed, it makes sense that the state at least has an interest in knowing the disposition of​ those human embryos. 
• To be heard this Thursday, Feb. 12, in House Health & Human Services Committee. Please contact your Representatives and respectfully ask them to VOTE YES on HB 1182.

• House Bill 1257 - The Life of the Mother Bill: ”An Act to regulate the performance and reporting of abortions necessary to preserve the life of a female and to provide a penalty therefore.”  This Bill would counter the misinformation campaign from the pro-abortion side that our pro-life law prevents women from receiving needed medical care for miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and other life-endangering pregnancy complications. 
• To be heard in Committee soon!

• House Bill 1274 - Chemical Abortion Pill Bill: ”An Act to restrict the delivery of an abortion-inducing drug into this state and provide a criminal and a civil penalty therefor, and provide a civil action for the wrongful death of an unborn child.”  Women deserve better than pills shipped through the mail with no physician oversight and no accountability when something goes wrong. This bill will help toward that end! 
• To be heard in Committee soon!

• House Bill 1313 - Fetal Development Classroom Video Bill: ”An Act to require the inclusion of a human fetal development video in any course that addresses human growth, development, or sexuality.”  SDRTL is all about promoting LIFE and today society has so cheapened LIFE that this Bill gives us the opportunity to show the beauty and science of the preciousness of LIFE. All this in our public school classrooms. 
• To be heard on the House Floor as early as Thursday, Feb. 12. Please contact your Representatives and respectfully ask them to VOTE YES on HB 1313.

Follow our work at the Capitol by going to our website at …sdRightToLife.org…and then click on the ‘Legislative Information Tab’. 

Visit our SD Legislature website at https://sdlegislature.gov/.

For more than 20 years, I’ve been honored to serve in the pro-life movement — including as past president of the South Dakota Right to Life board and currently serving on the National Right to Life board.

Recently, a bill was introduced in South Dakota that would have allowed women to face criminal prosecution — even life in prison — for abortion. I believe it’s important to provide some context.

For immediate release: Friday, February 6, 2026

For more information: Laura Echevarria, (202) 626-8825, mediarelations@nrlc.org

Kathy Hochul Signs New York’s Assisted Suicide Bill

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life strongly condemned Kathy Hochul’s signing of New York’s assisted suicide legislation, warning that the law abandons suicide prevention, endangers people with disabilities, and embeds systemic discrimination into state policy.

“Assisted suicide is suicide, no matter how its advocates try to rebrand it,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “New York has chosen to redefine suicide as a medical treatment, sending a chilling message to people who are sick, disabled, or struggling that their lives are less worth protecting.”

One of our speakers for our Annual Hour of Reflection was none other than our pro-life strong Governor Larry Rhoden. Watch here.

We are delighted to announce our partnership with Seven Weeks Coffee and a new way for you to support the pro-life cause. Thanks to their generosity, SDRTL will receive 20% of all partnership donations throughout the month of February, and will receive a grant at the end of the month. Please use our personalized QR Code above to place your life-affirming order, and enjoy!

One of our amazing SDRTL Chapters has stepped up to fully sponsor one young adult, age 18–25, to attend the National Right to Life Academy for one week this summer in Washington, D.C. This incredible academy offers intensive pro-life training led by foremost leaders in the movement, covering topics such as:

• abortion
• euthanasia
• stem cell research
• Planned Parenthood
• legislative strategy
• politics
• communication
• grassroots organizing
• IVF...and much more!

The cost per student is $2,500, which covers tuition for the Academy, one round-trip flight, a seven-night hotel stay, and meals. Our goal is to match this gift and send two outstanding young leaders from South Dakota to attend. If we exceed our goal, we will be able to sponsor additional students.

If you would like to help our Chapters make this opportunity possible, please donate using the link below. In the “In Honor” section, please enter “Academy.” Checks may also be mailed, with “Academy” noted in the memo line, to:

SDRTL

4001 W Valhalla Blvd, Ste 101

Sioux Falls, SD, 57106

If you or someone you know is interested in applying for the NRLC Academy, download the application here.

Thank you so much for investing in South Dakota's future pro-life leaders! We will keep you up to date on those chosen for this incredible opportunity.

We are so thankful for your heart for moms, dads, and babies in SD. We love our partners!

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, make your check out to "South Dakota Right to Life Education Fund," or give online at SDRighttoLife.org. Mail your donations to:

SDRTL

4001 W Valhalla Blvd, Ste 101

Sioux Falls, SD 57106