News & Commentary

We have been blessed with two beautiful children through foster care and adoption. But SB 149 could make it difficult – or even impossible – to build strong, loving families like ours.

Today the South Dakota State Senate advanced SB 149 to the House on a 22-12 vote. This bill would allow taxpayer funded agencies to refuse to provide any service, including adoption or foster care placement, on the basis of the agency’s religious beliefs or moral convictions.

Several bills are being considered this week seeking to limit the rights of LGBT people, restrict and criminalize abortion, and chill First Amendment activity. It’s imperative that everyday citizens do the job of showing up, speaking up, and holding representatives accountable for upholding our values.

This morning the Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed SB 149 on a 5-2 vote. This bill would allow taxpayer-supported agencies to refuse to provide any service, including adoption or foster care placement, on the basis of the agency's religious beliefs or moral convictions.

ACLU of South Dakota policy director Libby Skarin's testimony in opposition to HB 1145, a bill that would have allowed the government to target speech arising out of "community organizing efforts".

South Dakota is fighting to rise from the dubious title of last in the nation for education – so why are our politicians spending so much of their time trying to undermine science education around the state?  

A veteran from Minnesota explains why he's standing with Standing Rock.

A bill signed into law by President Bill Clinton about 20 years ago created an interstate agreement for emergency management. That agreement helped bring law enforcement agents from 10 states (including South Dakota) to the site of protests by the Standing Rock Sioux against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.

An update about ACLU work in Standing Rock and what you can do to help the water protectors.