Rep. Tony Randolph, R-Rapid City, listens to a committee hearing in January 2026 at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. He sponsored a bill in the House that sparked debate about the separation of church and state. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)
By: Meghan O’Brien
PIERRE, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) — Both chambers of the Legislature have approved a resolution that urges the people of South Dakota to “seek the Lord Most High for His healing presence and mercy,” after debates about the role of religion in government.
The measure passed 22-11 on Tuesday in the Senate and 42-23 on Thursday in the House of Representatives.
Rep. Tony Randolph, R-Rapid City, who sponsored the bill in the House, said the state is “in trouble from an internal manner,” citing rising violent crime rates. Throughout the country’s history, he said, people have turned to prayer.
“We are in the lowest moral state, probably, in the history of our nation,” he told lawmakers Thursday. “How do we deal with that? I say we go back to the root of what made this nation great, and call on Him.”
The resolution says that “because of our fallen nature,” many South Dakotans “continue to face significant challenges” such as violent crimes, addiction, mental illness and divorce.
“Cultural forces are inviting us to turn a blind eye towards growing tendencies to embrace suicide, infanticide and self-mutilation, each of which conflict with the truth that all men have been created in the image and likeness of God,” the legislation reads.
The resolution further proclaims that the month of July should annually be recognized as a “time of prayer and fasting in South Dakota.”
The measure is a concurrent resolution, which is an expression of the Legislature’s opinion without the force of law. It does not go to the governor for his signature.
Rep. John Shubeck, R-Beresford, said he sees “no harm” in the policy. The Founding Fathers would be “rolling over in their grave,” said Rep. Phil Jensen, R-Rapid City, over “the fact that we’re even having to debate this.”
“This should be a no-brainer,” Jensen told lawmakers. “And I would venture to say the only ones that are going to be voting red up there are going to be Democrats.”
Jensen declined to comment further to South Dakota Searchlight afterward. No Democrats spoke during the House floor debate on the resolution Thursday.
Afterward, Rep. Erik Muckey, D-Sioux Falls, said “Representative Jensen’s actions today were beyond the pale.”
All five Democratic members of the House voted against the measure. So did 18 Republicans. All three Democratic members of the Senate also voted against the resolution, along with eight Republicans.
“For me, a resolution like that is not something that I think is a good policy reflection of our chamber,” Muckey said. “The issue at hand with that resolution was that it was urging a particular approach to faith, and I don’t agree with that.”
Some Republicans raised concerns about mixing religion with lawmaking. Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, R-Sioux Falls, said she worried about what message the resolution would send to South Dakotans who aren’t Christians.
“Scripture itself repeatedly shows us that faith should be chosen freely and not forced,” she said during the House floor debate. “Out of respect for the diverse faith traditions across South Dakota and also out of respect for the proper role of government, I won’t be voting for this resolution.”
Rep. Mike Weisgram, R-Fort Pierre, who voted against the measure, said he worries about how it conflicts with the First Amendment.
“Religious liberty is guaranteed to us to practice or not to practice,” he said. “Yet a House concurrent resolution acts as a formal statement of policy.”
Comments