The state legislature has picked its new majority leadership, following Tuesday’s election.
The incoming state legislature will be led by a faction of the Republican party galvanized by the carbon pipeline debate.
Sioux Falls Republican Chris Karr is the incoming Senate President Pro Tempore. He spent eight years in the House, four of which he was chair of the House half of the committee that sets the state budget.
In 2023, he led efforts to reduce the overall sales tax from 4.5 to 4.2 percent.
The Senate President Pro Tempore-elect said his message to the Senate Republican caucus focused on two things—respect for each other and the process.
"If we do that then that is what the legislature is built for—to take competing ideas, to navigate, to hear those out, to vet them, and come out with the best product for South Dakota,” Karr said.
Karr said he’s watching sales and use tax, which are down about 1.5 percent as of late July. He said his focus is on funding state government, property rights, parental rights and school choice.
Other incoming leadership say the results reflects what drove South Dakota voter turnout—the presidential election and the various ballot questions. Nearly all the ballot questions were rejected—including one on abortion rights and a law passed related to carbon pipeline regulation.
Representative Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, is the incoming Speaker of the House. He was co-chair of the anti-abortion group Life Defense Fund, which soundly defeated Amendment G.
Representative Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, is the incoming majority leader for House Republicans. He helped fund several legislative candidates who unseated incumbents that passed the state law voters just rejected.
"This decision follows a long and arduous campaign season for everyone," said Reps. Hansen and Odenbach in a joint statement. "We look forward to collaborating closely with our House and Senate colleagues over the next two years to advance a thoughtful conservative agenda that keeps South Dakota the best place to live, work and raise a family for generations to come."
