Melissa Hull Announces Candidacy for South Dakota State Treasurer
Seven-Year Treasury Manager Brings Proven Record of Modernization, Accountability, and Results
PIERRE, S.D. — Melissa Hull of Pierre has announced her candidacy for South Dakota State Treasurer, citing seven years of direct leadership and delivering measurable, effective results for South Dakota taxpayers.
Hull has served as Treasury Manager since 2019, following the swearing-in of State Treasurer Josh Haeder. In that role, she has overseen the day-to-day operations of the division and spearheaded key initiatives to strengthen the office’s financial safeguards, operational efficiency, and technology infrastructure.
“From day one, we’ve transformed how this office operates — not just in terms of technology, but in how we protect and account for every taxpayer dollar,” Hull said. “The results speak for themselves, and I’m proud of what our team has built.”
During her tenure, Hull has driven meaningful modernization across the office. She led the implementation of affordable, AI-powered tools to carry out responsibilities more efficiently and accurately – saving staff hours each day and improving accounting accuracy. She spearheaded the rollout of Positive Pay through the state’s banking partner, a fraud-prevention system that monitors for unauthorized, altered, or duplicate checks and ACH debits.
Hull currently serves as the office lead on behalf of Treasurer Haeder for Project BISON, a $70 million technology initiative that will completely overhaul how South Dakota state government conducts daily business. She also built the Treasury team from the ground up at the start of Haeder’s term, leading cross-training efforts between the Treasury and Unclaimed Property divisions — two of the office’s core functions — to strengthen continuity, deepen the team’s expertise across both areas, and ensure checks and balances.
“When I accepted this role, we had to rebuild the team while simultaneously modernizing how the office functioned,” Hull said. “We implemented new technology, tightened fraud protections, and made the office more efficient — all without missing a beat on our central responsibilities to South Dakota taxpayers.”
With Treasurer Haeder unable to seek another term, Hull said the progress made over the past seven years — and the responsibility to protect it — inspired her to run.
“We’ve built something worth continuing.” Hull said. “I know what South Dakotans deserve and expect; South Dakotans deserve someone who is ready to hit the ground running and deliver results from day one, and I’m that candidate.”
A lifelong South Dakotan, Hull was raised in Philip and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Black Hills State University. She lives in Pierre with her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Charlie. Outside of work, she enjoys live music, boating, and spending time outdoors with her family.
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Snooze
“Experience” is only a credential if the results improved. Under current Treasury management, the unclaimed property return rate dropped from 33% to 14% — their worst year on record also happened to be their last year. $357 million came in last fiscal year. They returned 14% of it. The legislature had to pass a bill just to get the trust fund above $50,000 — something the office should have done itself.
You know what they say about people who live in glass houses.
They need a lot of glass cleaner?
Whomever typed this must be a real pinhead. Almost all of the new unclaimed property money is from foreign countries not South Dakota. Of course a return rate would drop if that’s the case. I’ve heard the treasurer talk about this on serval occassions. How much was returned to South Dakotan’s? That’s the number that matters.
You fail to understand the meaning of your own math, Heath.
Heath, I liked you better when you used to post comments here under your own name. Hiding behind your identity now? Makes me wonder what else you’re hiding.
Probably something hidden in his Texas saddlebaggage.
Heath, you don’t understand how any trust fund works let alone the new one created by Treasurer Haeder with Melissa Hull’s help
Melissa is a quality person and a good worker not looking for the limelight or to run for the next office. Public service at its finest. We need good, honest, hard working people for these state offices and she’s as good as they come.
A solid South Dakotan, not a Texas transplant.
I agree. You can’t go wrong by casting your vote for Melissa. She will be an outstanding State Treasurer.
Heath has lost his mind. He’s a total buffoon with these attacks. He was going to win until he went scorched earth. Get the popcorn. He is imploding right in front of our eyes.
Heath is jumping the shark. He’ll be sunk by the past.