Category: Uncategorized

Gov. Rhoden Announces Plan to Create the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced his intent to create the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force, which will determine the best path forward for expanding rehabilitation services as the state plans for the new prison. This task force will be established through an Executive Order following the passage and signing of the draft legislation for the new prison.

“It is no secret that our current penitentiary is unsafe and lacks sufficient resources to equip inmates for re-entry into society. On Tuesday, the Legislature can make the largest investment in public safety in South Dakota’s history, which will ultimately reduce recidivism,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “The new facility will dramatically increase programming space, so the next task is to expand our rehabilitative programming – that’s where this task force comes in.”

Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen will serve as the chairman of this task force. The task force will assess the programming needs of the inmate population, understand options for faith-based and Native American-focused programs, study best practices for re-entry models, and make recommendations on how to best use the expanded space of the new facility.

“This year, legislators and other stakeholders worked hard on both the prison task force and the legislative summer study on recidivism,” said Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen. “This task force will build upon that important work and help shape effective programming for our inmate population.”

Last week, Governor Rhoden released the full plan for a new prison, which will be voted on at the Special Session on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. The draft legislation, which you can find here, creates the space to allow for treatment programming and vocational training, whereas the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force will focus on determining what those programs look like.

The Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force will include legislators from both chambers and both parties; a cross section of experts in behavioral health, addiction counseling, and correctional rehabilitative services; and a tribal representative. It will begin its work this fall.

You can find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the prison plan here.

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Committee Passes Johnson’s Bill to Strengthen Supply Chains and Counter China

 Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025, led by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.). Johnson introduced this legislation in June to reauthorize the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the independent federal agency responsible for regulating the U.S. international ocean transportation system.

The Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act strengthens the FMC’s authority to crack down on China’s shipping malpractice and includes Johnson’s provisions to reform ocean shipping, ensuring American imports and exports compete on a level playing field in the global market.

“The East Coast, West Coast, America’s heartland, and everywhere in between rely on ocean shipping,” said Johnson. “Ocean shipping transports American products around the world and brings in foreign products that help fuel our economy. I’m grateful for the work of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to pass my legislation that will protect American businesses, producers, and consumers from China’s abuse of America’s ocean shipping laws.”

“I want to thank Congressman Dusty Johnson for his work and leadership on the bipartisan FMC Reauthorization Act,” said Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO). “This legislation reauthorizes this important agency and will help protect American shippers and carriers from unfair, anti-competitive practices of other nations, such as China.”

“America’s economy depends on a strong maritime supply chain,” said Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA). “That’s why I’m proud of the passing of the bipartisan Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025, which I co-led with Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.). This bill builds on my Ocean Shipping Reform Act, authorizes robust funding through 2029, strengthens the Commission’s independence, and gives U.S. businesses a fairer playing field in the global marketplace. I thank Representative Johnson and Representatives Ezell and Carbajal for partnering with me on this critical effort.”

“Ensuring the strength, security, and transparency of our maritime supply chain is not only an economic imperative but a critical national security priority,” said Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS), Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee. “The Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025 equips the Commission with the necessary tools and oversight to hold bad actors accountable and protect American shippers. As Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to modernize and empower the FMC for the challenges ahead, and I look forward to seeing it pass the U.S. House in the near future.”

Click here or the image above for Johnson’s remarks on the FMC Reauthorization Act

The Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025 is:

Tough on China

• Establishes a formal process to report complaints against shipping exchanges, like the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, to the FMC for investigation.
• Directs the FMC to report on anticompetitive business practices or nonreciprocal trade practices.
• Codifies the definition of “controlled carrier” under the Shipping Act to encompass state-controlled enterprises in non-market economies like the People’s Republic of China.

Good Government

• Updates and improves the purposes of the Shipping Act to better reflect current federal policy governing international ocean shipping.
• Prohibits the FMC from requiring ocean carriers to report information already reported to other federal agencies.

Sustains the FMC Mission

• Reauthorizes the FMC through fiscal year 2029.
• Expands FMC Advisory Committees, ensuring non-government stakeholders have the opportunity to provide their insight and expertise to the Commission.
• Reinforces the FMC’s independent nature by requiring a majority vote of the Commission to disclose FMC investigation efforts to outside parties.

The Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025 is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Mike Ezell (R-MS), John Garamendi (D-CA), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA).

Click here for bill text.

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Gov. Rhoden Announces District 16 House Appointment

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced the appointment of John Shubeck to represent District 16 in the South Dakota House of Representatives, effective immediately. This seat was formerly held by Representative Richard Vasgaard.

“John embodies the core values of not only South Dakota, but also of late Representative Vasgaard,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “He has lived a life of service and hard work as a veteran, a coach, a church elder, and a Turner County farmer. I trust he will carry on his proud legacy of service in this new role.”

John Shubeck served our nation in the United State Marine Corps for 20 years. His dedication and selfless service led him to receive the Bronze Star, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. Shubeck is a strong agriculture leader, and he currently manages a diversified farm that produces both grain and livestock. He continues to serve his community, having planted a church in Centerville and led the Centerville Middle and High School track team to several state meets as their head track coach.

“It is truly humbling to follow in the footsteps of Representative Richard Vasgaard who took so much time throughout his life to impact his community and District 16 one person at a time, myself included,” said John Shubeck. “I will continue his legacy of putting the people of District 16 first in the same humble and hardworking manner that he did.”

Shubeck lives in Beresford, SD, with his wife and their four kids. You can find a photo of John Shubeck and his family here.

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Senator Mike Rounds’ WEEKLY ROUND[S] UP: September 8-14, 2025

Welcome back to another Weekly Round[s] Up. Last week was a terrible week for our nation as Charlie Kirk was assassinated at an event in Utah. Charlie Kirk dedicated his life to bringing people of differing opinion together around civil discussions. Above all else, he was a follower of Christ, a father to two beautiful children, a devoted husband and son, and an American who wanted to make this country a better place to call home. We continue to pray for his family and all who knew and loved him.

This past week, I met with several groups of South Dakotans who were in Washington. I also attended a few hearings and briefings, as well as attending other meetings with groups from across the country. We took several votes on the Senate floor, including one to speed up all of the nominees who are awaiting confirmations. More on my week in my Weekly Round[s] Up:

South Dakota groups I visited with: Crystal Enstad from Oncology Nursing Society; South Dakota Farmers Union; Michelle Powers, CEO of Northern Hills Training Center; members of South Dakota Auto Dealers; Rick Williamson, Legislative Chairman of the Department of South Dakota Veterans of Foreign Wars; Annette and Matt Brandt, Angels in Adoption Honorees; Major General Mark R. Morrell, who serves as the Adjutant General of the South Dakota National Guard; leaders from South Dakota Credit Unions; leaders from R-CALF USA; and members of Growth Energy. I also had the opportunity to meet with the South Dakota National Guard members who are currently deployed to Washington, D.C. Their work and the work of everyone deployed to DC has made a noticeable difference in cleaning up the city.

Met with South Dakotans from: Aberdeen, Britton, Clark, De Smet, Gary, Gregory, Groton, Huron, Ipswich, Lemmon, Madison, Oacoma, Parade, Pierre, Rapid City, Reliance, Reva, Salem, Sioux Falls, Spearfish, Sturgis and Yankton.

Other meetings this past week: Dr. Todd Golub, Director of the Broad Institute; Rhode Island Business and Community Leaders; Marianne Lake, CEO of Consumer and Community Banking at JPMorgan Chase & Co; and Derrick Anderson, nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict.

We had our Senate Bible Study on Tuesday morning. The verse of the week was Genesis 1:28. I also attended prayer breakfast on Wednesday, where Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey was our speaker.

Hearings: I attended three hearings this week: one hearing in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to vote on a nominee for Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs; one hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee to hear from our nominee to serve as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and a hearing with the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs titled “Evaluating Perspectives on Deposit Insurance Reform”.

Following the Banking hearing, I introduced legislation to modernize outdated rules on reciprocal deposits. Reciprocal deposits allow community banks to offer customers full FDIC insurance while keeping those dollars working in local communities. This legislation updates current statutory thresholds to make it easier for community and regional banks to receive non-brokered treatment for reciprocal deposits. Read more here.

Classified Briefings: I attended four classified briefings this week: one as part of my work on SASC’s Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, and two briefings in the Select Committee on Intelligence. I also hosted our biweekly cyber education seminar.

Votes taken: 13 – We voted on several Trump administration nominees. These nominees were for US District Judges in Florida and Missouri, as well as positions in the Department of Homeland Security.

In addition, we voted to change the rules of the Senate to speed up confirmation on all of the nominees being held up by Democrats. As I said last week, we are facing historic obstruction from the other side of the aisle. The Senate is required to approve over 1,300 nominees. If we spend our time in DC taking procedural votes on each one, we’ll never get to the important legislation that Americans need, such as the NDAA or appropriations. We must get back to the business of running the country instead of allowing Senate Democrats to hold the Senate hostage by taking advantage of a broken system. Leader John Thune did a great job of addressing our frustrations with Senate Democrat leadership on the Senate floor last week, which you can watch a clip of here. We look forward to continuing to get these nominees through the Senate and into their positions working for the American people.

Academy nominations: My office is currently accepting nominations from high school seniors who are looking to attend a U.S. service academy after graduation. By attending an academy, not only will students have the opportunity to serve our nation and help lead the best military in the world, but they will receive an excellent education at a top-notch institution. I encourage young South Dakotans looking to answer the call of duty to consider applying to one of our service academies. Read more here.

My staff in South Dakota visited: Aberdeen, Brandon, Howard, Mitchell, Pierre, Sioux Falls, Watertown and Winner.

Steps taken: 46,949 steps or 21.16 miles.

Photo of the week: Good to see members of the South Dakota National Guard who are hard at work here in DC:

Thune: Schumer Deploys Same Old Shutdown Script

“[W]e’re suggesting right now a short-term CR to get us to November the 21st, to give us time to process and consider appropriation bills, which is the way we ought to be funding the government.”

SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATURE TO HOLD SPECIAL SESSION

PIERRE – On July 18, 2025, Governor Rhoden issued an Executive Proclamation calling for a special session of the State Legislature on September 23, 2025. Lawmakers will consider legislation to authorize the Department of Corrections to purchase property for, and contract for the design and construction of, a new prison facility in South Dakota.

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are scheduled to convene at 9:00 a.m. (CT). Chamber calendars are currently posted online at https://sdlegislature.gov/ and livestream links will be available the morning of September 23. Proposed legislation that may be considered is posted at https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/DraftLegislation.html; additional bills may be introduced on the day of the special session.

The public is welcome to observe the proceedings and to provide testimony in committee on any proposed legislation. Committee agendas will be posted on the LRC website after both chambers have convened and organized for the special session. For more information on providing testimony in committee, contact John McCullough, Director, Legislative Research Council, at john.mccullough@sdlegislature.gov or Melanie Dumdei, Assistant Chief for Legal, Legislative Research Council, at melanie.dumdei@sdlegislature.gov.

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I’ve been hearing more and more recently that former Speaker of the House (2019-2021) Steve Haugaard may be making moves towards running for the office of the Attorney General.  That might also explain why he’s made a Lincoln Day Dinner appearance or two. And why the rumor has persisted.

If you recall, Haugaard most recently lost to Governor Kristi Noem in the 2022 GOP Gubernatorial Primary on a vote of 76.4% to 23.6%. And then turned around a few weeks later to (unsuccessfully) insert himself into the GOP ticket as Lt. Governor instead of now Governor Larry Rhoden at the convention.

If that’s the case, it would put Haugaard on a collision course against Fall River County State’s Attorney and former Legislator Lance Russell, who is currently the only announced candidate in the contest.

Keep watching. Things are getting interesting.

It’s Time to Focus on the Facts
By: Ryan Brunner

Next Tuesday, the legislature will meet to consider and approve the proposal for a new men’s prison brought forward by the prison task force. One choice is to vote yes and support meaningful, program-based incarceration, including faith-based rehabilitation. The other is to vote against a safe workplace for officers and against the wishes of police chiefs, sheriffs, states’ attorneys, and the Attorney General.

This summer, the prison task force unanimously determined that we need a new, 1,500 bed prison in Sioux Falls. The task force’s work included thousands of pages of information and hours of public comment, all live-streamed online. Yet, some are still claiming there are too many unanswered questions or spreading myths. It is time to focus on the facts to improve public safety for all South Dakotans.

 

Myth: The prison will cost more than $650 million in total costs to build.

Fact: The legislation requires a 2/3^rd vote and a construction manager to competitively procure every piece of the prison. There will be a guaranteed maximum price of $650 million or less.  It would be illegal to go over the legislation’s cap. The only way this prison will cost $1 billion is if we keep kicking the can down the road.

 

Myth: The prison doesn’t need to be that large or will hold out-of-state prisoners.

Fact: Multiple consultant reports evaluated the current overcrowding and future prison system needs. A 1,500-bed prison was unanimously adopted by the task force and is built for South Dakota prisoners. All 50 states can participate in a compact that the Legislature approved, under which the state may trade inmates with other states for reasons such as security needs, witness protection, or victim protection. These “out-of-state” prisoners are few, and the state receives no revenue for housing an interstate compact inmate, nor do we pay another state. Illegal immigrant “detainees” can’t be held in any state prison by law. The bottom line is: 1,500 beds are needed to meet South Dakota’s need.

 

Myth: There are cheaper options, or we should add on to existing prisons.

Fact: The task force evaluated these options and found that adding to an existing prison will increase costs by at least 30-40% versus a new site. Construction inside a secure area requires delays, searches, and security of equipment to prevent inmates from hurting staff or escaping. Adding onto the Jameson Annex would add 192 beds for $138.2 million or $720,000 per bed. This is 66.2% higher than the plan the legislature will approve next week at $433,000 per bed. Another example: to build just the proposed 300-bed dormitory inside an existing facility would cost 34.1% more.

 

Myth: We should focus on reducing recidivism instead of building a new prison.

Fact: The task force agreed that we need to reduce recidivism. However, you need classrooms to teach classes. To hire teachers and counselors, you need offices. To provide treatment programming, you need space. To learn a vocation, you need the industrial space. Right now, mentally ill inmates can visit a few small behavioral health offices right next to the execution chamber – not exactly therapeutic. Southeast Tech has been approved for a satellite campus on-site at the new prison. The proposed facility provides the space to train these folks and get them to work, to provide drug rehabilitation, and to deliver mental health counseling. The department needs appropriate space to expand programs that prepare and coach offenders to reenter the community.

 

In summary, no one wants to build a prison if they don’t have to. Unfortunately, they are a necessary part of keeping South Dakota safe. In just the last couple of weeks, our nation has been exposed to heinous crimes that have shocked our public conscience. One of these crimes was the murder of a Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death by a repeat offender with 14 prior arrests. It is clear the new prison must focus on rehabilitation to show inmates what God’s love is through action.

Next week the legislature has a choice. This is the right plan, at the right price, and the right location. This should be an easy vote.

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Ryan Brunner serves as Senior Policy Advisor for Public Safety and Director of Legislative Relations for Governor Larry Rhoden. His portfolio includes advising Governor Rhoden on policy issues regarding the Department of Corrections.

Gov. Rhoden Appoints Annie Hoffman as Second Circuit Judge

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced the appointment of Annie Hoffman as a circuit judge in the Second Circuit, a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Doug Hoffman.

“Annie is an exceptional lawyer who is concise, thoughtful, and possesses deep intellect. The people of South Dakota will be well-served by her,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “I am confident she will instill faith in the due process and honor justice in her courtroom.”

Annie Hoffman grew up in rural Lennox, South Dakota. She graduated from Luther College in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in history and Spanish. She graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2008 with a juris doctorate and an emphasis in international and comparative law.

Hoffman began her career in public service by working for the general counsel of the Secretary of the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C. In 2010, Hoffman moved back to South Dakota to join the law firm of Myers & Billion in Sioux Falls, where she practiced civil litigation and criminal defense. In 2012, Hoffman became an Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of South Dakota, where she handled a wide range of cases, including complex financial crimes and violent crimes in Indian country.

“I am humbled and deeply honored to accept Governor Rhoden’s appointment, and I am very grateful to him,” said Annie Hoffman. “I am committed to the rule of law and will apply the law fairly and impartially. I look forward to continuing my career in public service and serving the people of South Dakota in this role.”

Annie and her husband, Brett, have two children. You can find a photo of Annie Hoffman here.

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In case you’ve forgotten what it looked like when the SDGOP used to have successful annual pheasant hunt fundraisers, such as this one back in 2017:

You know, back when they had custom personalized swag, and Big Frig Coolers, and a ton of other things they handed out to participants?

Now, fast forward to 2025.

And while you don’t see the SDGOP clucking about how successful their event was, there are a few pictures slipping out on social media from what the new people in charge call the “1st Annual SDGOP Pheasant Hunt” which might refer to the the first one run by a former 32-year Democrat.

Here’s “the candidate dinner” they were advertising, which looks like the candidates spent time sitting with their own tribes; Doeden off glowering at a table with Cole Heisey and Drew Dennert.  (Correction – I’m told Doeden bagged out on attending)  and team Hanson/Lems with Kathy Rice.

And here’s a picture of the hunters that’s floating around out there.  Not seeing a lot of people writing the big check to hunt, except possibly Toby paying for his minions.

I hate to be the one to point it out, but this is not looking much different from the turnout for the SDGOP golf outing…

Except it’s usually more expensive to put on a pheasant hunt than it is a golf outing.

I can’t wait to see what the over/under looks like on this one.