Jon Hansen

Jon Hansen (born 1985/1986) is an American politician currently serving as a representative for the 25th Legislative District in the South Dakota House of Representatives and as Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, he formerly served as the Speaker pro tempore of the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Hansen previously served as a representative for District 25 in 2011–2013. Hansen currently serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and as a house majority whip.

Hansen is currently running for Governor of South Dakota with fellow state representative Karla Lems as his running mate.

Early life and education

Hansen was born in Yankton, South Dakota. When Hansen was six years old, his father died.  Six years later, Hansen's mom remarried and his family moved to Dell Rapids, South Dakota where he grew up along with his two sisters. Hansen attended Southeast Technical Institute, where he earned his associate degree in business administration. Hansen attended the University of Sioux Falls, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business management. Hansen graduated with '' Sterling Honors'' from the University of South Dakota School of Law.

Career

Hansen is a lawyer at Dell Rapids Law Firm in Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Hansen represents families as their adoption attorney.

Political career

Tenure

In 2010, Hansen defeated incumbent Democrat Oran Sorenson, winning a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives. Hansen was reelected in 2012. In 2013, Hansen left public office to attend the University of South Dakota School of Law. Upon Hansen's departure, Governor Dennis Daugaard said, "in his second term, Jon has already stood out as a leader, and I hope to see him return to public service in the future."

In 2018, Hansen returned to the South Dakota House of Representatives by defeating incumbent Democrat Dan Ahlers. Hansen was also victorious in a Republican primary election earlier that same year.

Hansen Represents South Dakota's 25th Legislative District, which "includes the towns and rural areas surrounding Baltic, Colton, Dell Rapids, Garretson, Lyons, Rowena, Sherman, Split Rock Township, Valley Springs, and eastern Sioux Falls."

Leadership Positions

Hansen currently serves as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives.

Hansen currently serves as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Hansen also served as Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee in 2013.

Committee assignments

2019 – present

* House Judiciary Committee – Chairman
* House State Affairs Committee
* House Legislative Procedure Committee

2013

* House Judiciary Committee – Vice chairman
* House State Affairs Committee
* House Legislative Procedure Committee

2011 – 2012

* House Judiciary
* House Transportation

Awards

In 2019, Hansen received the Americans for Prosperity Torchbearer Award "for his tremendous record of voting to break down barriers for South Dakotans and for his sponsorship of legislation to expand education opportunities for our students."

In 2019, Hansen received the American Conservative Union's Award for Conservative Achievement.

Political positions

Abortion

Hansen opposes abortion. He is a current board member and executive committee member of South Dakota Right to Life. Hansen received an "A" rating from South Dakota Right to Life for his anti-abortion legislative voting record.

House Resolution 1003

In 2019, Hansen sponsored House Resolution 1003, denouncing the recent passage of New York's abortion law and requesting that the Governor declare a day of prayer and fasting to atone for the unspeakable crime of abortion.

House Bill 1193

In 2019, Hansen sponsored House Bill 1193, which "provide a criminal penalty for causing an abortion against a pregnant mother's will." Anyone found guilty under the bill faces mandatory life in prison.

House Bill 1193 passed on the floor of the House of Representatives with 68 yea votes and 0 nay votes. The bill passed on the floor of the Senate with 32 yay votes and 0 nay votes. Governor Kristi Noem signed House Bill 1193 on March 20, 2019.

Senate Bill 110

In 2018, Hansen appeared before the Senate State Affairs Committee to testify in favor of Senate Bill 110. Senate Bill 110 specifically criticized the Planned Parenthood facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for allegedly failing to adequately provide the required pre-abortion counseling to pregnant mothers under South Dakota law. Senate Bill 110 also required pregnancy help centers in South Dakota to provide the disclosures that it claimed Planned Parenthood was failing to provide.

House Concurrent Resolution 1002

In 2013, Hansen co-sponsored House Concurrent Resolution 1002, urging the United States Supreme Court to revisit the ''Roe v. Wade'' case and to overturn its decision. The Resolution passed the South Dakota House of Representative on a vote of 60 to 10 and passed the South Dakota Senate on a vote of 23 to 10.

House Bill 1237

In 2013, Hansen sponsored House Bill 1237, which excludes weekends and holidays from the calculation of the 72-hour waiting period required between a pregnant mother's initial consultation with an abortion care provider and an abortion procedure. The 72-hour waiting period requirement was passed into South Dakota law in 2011 via House Bill 1217, which Hansen also co-sponsored. During the 72-hour waiting period, House Bill 1217 also required that the pregnant mother have a consultation at a pregnancy help center during which the pregnancy help center "inform he pregnant motherabout what education, counseling, and other assistance is available to help the pregnant mother," and also screens for "circumstances that may subject he pregnant mother'sdecision to coercion."

House Bill 1185

In 2012, Hansen sponsored House Bill 1185 which prohibits all health care plans offered through the Affordable Care Act in South Dakota from including abortion coverage. House Bill 1185 was signed into law by Governor Dennis Daugaard on March 19, 2012.

House Bill 1217

In 2011, Hansen co-sponsored House Bill 1217, which, among other provisions, requires a 72-hour waiting period between a pregnant mother's initial consultation with an abortion care provider and an abortion procedure. At the time, the 72-hour waiting period was reportedly the longest in the nation. Under the bill, during the 72-hour waiting period, the pregnant mother must have a consultation at a pregnancy help center at which the pregnancy help center "inform her about what education, counseling, and other assistance is available to help the pregnant mother keep and care for her child." The pregnancy help center also conducts a private interview with the pregnant mother to help ensure that she is not being coerced into making her decision to abort her unborn child. House Bill 1217 was signed into law by Governor Dennis Daugaard on March 28, 2011.

Intellectual diversity on college campuses

On February 19, 2019, on the floor of the House of Representatives, Hansen spoke in favor of House Bill 1087, an act to "promote free speech and intellectual diversity at certain institutions of higher education." House Bill 1087 was signed into law by Governor Kristi Noem on March 29, 2019.

On June 26, 2019, the South Dakota Board of Regents convened to discuss House Bill 1087.

Second Amendment

Hansen "has been endorsed three times by the NRA and has received an 'A' rating from the Association because of his 'demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.'"

In 2019, Hansen supported Senate Bill 47, which allows individuals in South Dakota to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Governor Kristi Noem signed Senate Bill 47 into law on February 5, 2019.

Taxes and budget

Hansen has signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge, "pledg ngto the taxpayers of the State of South Dakota, that ewill oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes."

In 2012, Hansen voted in favor of House Joint Resolution 1007, which " opos dand submitt dto the electors at the next general election an amendment to Article XII of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, relating to a balanced budget." The passage of House Joint Resolution 1007 resulted in "The South Dakota Budget Balance Amendment, also known as Constitutional Amendment P," being placed on the November 2012 general election ballot. The South Dakota Budget Balance Amendment was approved by the voters of South Dakota by a 64.6% to 35.4% vote.

In 2010, the State of South Dakota faced a $127 million budget deficit. In his 2010 campaign, Hansen pledged to vote to balance the state budget without raising taxes. During the 2011 legislative session, Hansen voted in favor of the general budget bill, which eliminated the state's $127 million budget deficit and balanced the state budget without raising taxes.

Personal life

Hansen resides in Dell Rapids, South Dakota with his wife, Sheila, and their four children. Hansen is Catholic and a member of St. Mary Parish in Dell Rapids.

Hansen has served as President of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce.

Electoral history

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hansen, Jon
1980s births
21st-century members of the South Dakota Legislature
Living people
Republican Party members of the South Dakota House of Representatives
People from Dell Rapids, South Dakota
Place of birth missing (living people)
South Dakota lawyers
Speakers of the South Dakota House of Representatives