South Dakota Governor Signs Three Pro-Life Bills to Save Babies, Help Women

A Pro-Life Governor, AG, Legislators and Lobbyists Walk into a Pregnancy Resource Center….

….and when that happens you have a ‘Celebration of Life’ like none other as our Pro-Life South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed into Law three very significant Pro-Life Bills!  This amazing event took place on Friday, March 20, at the Sioux Falls Alpha Pregnancy Resource Center where the Governor signed three Pro-Life Bills into law making it a felony to dispense or advertise chemical abortion pills and related items, clarifying what constitutes an abortion, and requiring public schools to show students videos pertaining to prenatal development.

Some may say, following a long nine-week SD Legislative Session, that “Happiness is Pierre in the rear-view mirror” but at SD Right to Life we say, “Happiness is the passage of meaningful Pro-Life Legislation like this year’s.” 

HELP LIFENEWS SAVE BABIES FROM ABORTION! Please help LifeNews.com with a donation!

As of today, the following three significant LIFE Bills have been Supported by SDRTL, passed overwhelmingly by both the House and the Senate, signed by the Governor and will now go into effect on July 1, 2026 here in South Dakota:

House Bill 1257 – ”An Act to Amend the Definition of an Abortion.”  This Bill adds additional clarity to our pro-life laws, specifically explaining that miscarriage treatment and ectopic pregnancies do not count as “abortions” under South Dakota law. Our laws already provided for these and other pregnancy-related complications, but in light of the misinformation we have seen in recent years the decision was made to specifically explain that these treatments are not abortions and are allowed under South Dakota law.

House Bill 1274 – ”An Act to prohibit the dispensing, distribution, sale, or advertisement of certain articles or things for purposes of an unlawful abortion and provide a criminal and civil penalty therefore.”  This Bill gives the Attorney General additional tools to prosecute the companies that are mailing or trafficking drugs for illegal abortions into the state. These pills end the life of an unborn baby, and have a much higher complication rate than the industry had previously claimed.  

House Bill 1313 – ”An Act to require the inclusion of a human fetal development video in any course that addresses human growth, development, or sexuality.”  This Bill requires education, in the form of an at least a 3-minute video, on prenatal human growth and development in South Dakota’s public schools. This measure promises to help students gain an appreciation for the dignity of unborn human life, and think with greater clarity on ethical issues at the beginning of life.

During the Signing Ceremony Governor Rhoden told attendees: “South Dakota is the most pro-life state in America. Our laws reflect the fact that an unborn child is a person – and that child is worthy of our protection and respect.” He added, “By stopping illegal abortion pills from coming into South Dakota, we continue to stand for life and protect the next generation of South Dakotans.”  And, he concluded by saying, “My signature today will strengthen South Dakota’s pro-life laws.”

Although my comments were brief they summed up the amazing efforts of many, including the Governor’s Advocate to the Unborn Child – Ian Fury.  I said in part, “TEAMWORK makes it ALL WORK” and the passage of these three Bills demonstrated a TEAM effort.  Now onto the next LIFE challenge!

The post South Dakota Governor Signs Three Pro-Life Bills to Save Babies, Help Women appeared first on LifeNews.com.