Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, is now speaker of the South Dakota House for the 100th legislature.
The speaker oversees operations in the House chamber — including bill assignments.
Hansen was next in line for speakership during 2021 and 2022 sessions, but a shift in the Republican caucus delayed the trajectory.
Hansen said its humbling to have the support of his colleagues.
“I’m going to focus, over the next two legislative sessions, on doing everything I can to promote fairness so that everybody that comes out here—they get a fair shake," Hansen said. "At the end of the day, whether your bill passes or fails, you know that you were treated fairly by your legislature. You were heard. You were listened to. You got to exercise your voice. And that’s what I think matters, in terms of being speaker of the House in South Dakota.”
Hansen is serving in his tenth legislative session. He’s been chair of House Judiciary for six of those years.
Hansen is also the vice-president of South Dakota Right To Life—a prominent anti-abortion group in the state.
The Speaker’s counterpart in the Senate—the President Pro Tempore—is Sioux Falls Republican Chris Karr. Karr was term limited from the House and is serving his first term in the Senate.
