Feb. 3, 2026:
The South Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill Tuesday (Feb. 3) to make disrupting church services through threats or violence a Class 6 felony.
Sen. Jim Mehlhaff of Pierre said it’s currently a misdemeanor.
Gov. Larry Rhoden proposed what has become Senate Bill 113 last month (Jan. 23).
Rhoden Senior Policy Advisor Ryan Brunner said this proposed law would not apply to small disruptions.
Tara Larson with the South Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers said elevating this type of crime to a felony is unnecessary.
SB 113 now goes to the senate floor.
Jan. 23, 2026:
A bill that South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden and the two prime sponsors say is a mechanism to defend religious freedom has been proposed for state lawmakers to consider this session.
Rhoden said Senate Bill 113 was drafted after seeing freedom of religion come under assault in Minnesota earlier this week (Jan. 18, 2026), underscoring the need to prevent a similar event from happening in South Dakota.
Senate Republican Party Leader Senator Jim Mehlhaff of Pierre said if out-of-state agitators do the same thing in South Dakota, “they should plan to stay a while.”
Rhoden and legislative supporters say SB 113 would create stronger consequences for anyone who interferes with religious freedoms.
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