Gov. Larry Rhoden is appointing Sioux Falls Republican Jack Kolbeck to fill an open House seat in District 13.
Kolbeck served in the state Senate from 2017 to 2024. He was term limited.
“I worked with Jack for years as presiding officer of the State Senate,” said Gov. Rhoden in a statement. “He has a steady head on his shoulders and will be a strong partner to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free.”
The vacancy occurred when Rhoden nominated his now-lieutenant governor Tony Venhuizen.
Venhuizen’s departure to the executive branch leaves a vacancy on the appropriations committee—a group of House and Senate lawmakers that set the state budget.
Speaker of the House Jon Hansen says he was going to wait for Rhoden to make an appointment before filling the vacancy on that committee.
Kolbeck served on the appropriations from 2019 to 2024.
This year, lawmakers are facing a tighter budget than in recent years and are considering some proposed cuts—including to SDPB, the state library, building maintenance and more.
