Who is South Dakota’s new governor, Larry Rhoden?

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Larry Rhoden, who succeeded Kristi Noem as South Dakota’s governor on Saturday, brings a lengthy record of success as state legislator to his new office.

The Meade County rancher and welder had already served 16 years in the Legislature and was seeking re-election to a seat in the House in 2018 when Noem, the Republican gubernatorial primary winner, announced in a video that she had chosen him to be her running mate. They went on to win the three-candidate November general election with 50.97% of the vote, making Noem the first woman to be elected governor of South Dakota.

Four years later, Noem turned back a challenge to her re-election to a second term as governor when she defeated the House speaker, Steven Haugaard, in the Republican primary that June. Haugaard however wasn’t done seeking statewide office. He challenged Rhoden for the lieutenant governor nomination. Noem in turn went to the floor of the Republican Party’s state convention in Watertown and called for Rhoden to remain her running mate. A majority of delegates stuck with Rhoden.

Rhoden had been on a statewide election ballot once before. In 2014, he was one of five candidates seeking the Republican nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat. Former two-term governor Mike Rounds won the Republican primary with 41,377 votes or 55.5%. Rhoden placed second with 13,593 votes, finishing about 400 ahead of another legislator, Stace Nelson. 

Rhoden ran for election to another term in the state House in 2016 and won. During his 16 sessions as a representative, then senator and then representative again, he was prime sponsor of 64 bills, and 43 became law.

Watch: Noem confirmed for Secretary of Homeland Security

Among the Rhoden-sponsored laws was establishing South Dakota’s current system of valuing agricultural property for taxes, part of a broader effort with the Rounds administration. Rhoden also led the effort to make rodeo the official state sport and exempting most trucking businesses from the state sales tax, which had been passed at the request of the previous governor, Bill Janklow, as part of Janklow’s drive for property-tax reduction.

Rhoden also sponsored the repeal of an anti-corruption and political funding measure that South Dakota voters had passed 52-48% in the 2016 election. Some pieces of of the repealed measure were then put into state law with Rhoden’s support.

Among the topics that Rhoden’s proposals most often addressed were public school funding, agricultural property taxes, exempting firearms from federal regulation, loosening state requirements for pistol permits, protecting private-property rights, political campaign funding and motorcycles; his legislative district included Sturgis, where bikers from across the nation and the world rally each August.

Here’s a look at Rhoden’s history as a legislator. 

2001 – Prime sponsor of two House bills; one* became law. 

1070* allow vendors to sell soft drinks or other concessions on school property. Passed 65-3 by House and 25-8 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1245 revise the provisions concerning the licensing, assessment, and taxation of manufactured homes. Hoghoused in House Taxation Committee and killed 10-5. 

2002 – Prime sponsor of two House bills; none became law. 

1247 require payment of certain property taxes if agricultural land is changed to another classification of property. Killed 15-0 by House Taxation Committee. 

1282 place a moratorium on certain new outdoor advertising permits, to create a task force to review the state laws regulating outdoor advertising along state highways, and to declare an emergency. Killed 11-2 by House Transportation Committee. 

2003 – Prime sponsor of four House bills; four* became law.  

1075* designate rodeo as the official sport of South Dakota. Passed 66-4 by House and 27-8 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1153* revise certain provisions pertaining to the possession of marijuana. (Added “possession with intent to distribute” to the crime of distributing marijuana) Passed 67-1 by House and 31-2 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1172* revise the factors considered in the certification of a county overweight vehicle enforcement program. Passed 66-1 by House and 34-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1182* exempt certain shooting ranges from the gross receipts tax on visitor-related businesses. (Exempted gross receipts of shooting ranges operated by nonprofits from the tax) Passed 59-9 by House and 35-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

HCR 1009 requesting that a bipartisan delegation of South Dakota state legislators travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional leaders, administration, and Department of Agriculture officials to express the need for disaster assistance targeted to those in most serious need. Passed 64-1 by House and 26-8 by Senate. 

2004 – Prime sponsor of four House bills; two* became law. 

1180* exempt the gross receipts of certain transportation services from sales and use tax. (Exempted most trucking and courier services) Passed 68-0 by House and 33-2 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1258 restrict the entry of conservation officers onto certain private land without permission. Passed 42-28 by House, died in Senate after Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee sent it to the floor without recommendation 5-4. 

1296 restrict, under certain circumstances, the alienation of private real property to the federal government. Died on 58-4 tabling vote by House. 

1297* restrict the alienation of public state real property to the federal government. Passed 49-20 by House and 33-1 by Senate. Signed into law. 

2005 – Prime sponsor of four House bills; four* became law. 

1067* revise the property tax levies for the general fund and the special education tax levy of a school district. Passed 69-0 by House and 35-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1189* clarify the application of certain provisions pertaining to the sale of pistols. Passed 70-0 by House and 35-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1190* provide for recognition of certain valid nonresident permits to carry a concealed pistol. Passed 70-0 by House and 35-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1220* revise the calculation of state aid to general education, to appropriate money therefor, and to exempt from reversion certain funds appropriated for state aid to education. Final compromise passed 53-17 by House and 32-2 by Senate. Signed into law. 

2006 – Prime sponsor of four House bills; three* became law. 

1009 create additional classifications of agricultural property, to revise certain provisions concerning the valuation of agricultural land for ad valorem taxation, and to revise certain provisions concerning the taxation of certain agricultural property. Passed 55-13 by House, killed 15-19 by Senate. 

1054* revise certain provisions regarding an increase of the prizes that certain lotteries may award. (Removed $30,000 limit on lottery prizes) Passed 66-2 by House and 24-11 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1060* revise the property tax levies for the general fund of a school district. Passed 67-0 by House and 33-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1080* restrict the use of eminent domain under certain circumstances and to protect certain private property rights from acquisition by the use or threat of eminent domain. Passed 67-1 by House and 35-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

2007 – Prime sponsor of nine House bills; seven* became law. 

1084* revise the property tax levies for the general fund of a school district. Passed 67-0 by House and 35-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1100* authorize the Legislative Research Council to remodel, renovate, and furnish certain facilities on the fourth floor of the State Capitol Building for use by the Legislature, and to make an appropriation therefor. Passed 68-2 by House and 35-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1127* clarify the authority of county commissioners to set their annual salary. Passed 68-0 by House and 33-1 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1139* create and provide for the education enhancement tobacco tax fund and the health care tobacco tax fund. Passed 60-10 by House and 20-15 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1140* require an annual adjustment to the general fund levies of a school district by reducing local effort by nine million dollars from funds deposited in the property tax reduction fund from the tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products. Passed 69-1 by House and 32-3 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1160* repeal the requirement for physician involvement in the execution of a sentence of death by eliminating certain specified roles. Passed 56-14 by House and 31-3 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1171* enhance education in the state and to make an appropriation therefor. This was hoghoused and became the teacher compensation assistance fund. Final version passed 49-18 by House and 34-1 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1263 revise certain provisions contained in Senate Bill 209, the General Appropriations Act, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, as previously enacted by the Eighty-first Session of the South Dakota Legislature. Killed 9-0 by House Appropriations Committee. 

1264 provide counties the authority to acquire, construct, maintain, and operate sewer utility systems. Killed 13-0 by House Local Government Committee. 

2008 – Prime sponsor of seven House bills; four became law. 

1005* revise certain provisions concerning the assessment of real property, to assess agricultural land based on its agricultural income value, to create an implementation and oversight advisory task force, to repeal certain provisions regarding the assessment of property, and to repeal the nonagricultural acreage classification. Passed 45-22 by House, amended and passed 27-4 by Senate, amendments agreed to by House 44-24. Signed into law. 

1006* revise certain tax levy limitations and property tax levies for school districts. Passed 48-19 by House, amended and passed 29-4 by Senate, amendments agreed to by House 53-15. Signed into law. 

1120* revise the property tax levies for the general fund of a school district. Final version passed 66-1 by House and 30-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1124 enhance education in South Dakota. A placeholder hoghoused by House State Affairs Committee into a three-level classification system for certified teachers and school service specialists and passed 39-29 by House. Senate changed the content back to a placeholder. Died in House-Senate conference committee. 

1191* revise certain provisions regarding the display of customized motorcycles at certain events. (Removed permit requirement for any customized motorcycle being built for and displayed during a sponsored event where the participants had to qualify through competition. Passed 67-0 by House and 34-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1279 align math and science education with South Dakota’s historic and unique scientific opportunities, to direct the Department of Education to initiate Project Lead the Way, to develop a clearinghouse for certain educational opportunities, and to provide for an independent analysis of the state’s content standards, and to make an appropriation therefor, and to require the Department of Education to develop a framework for a high school for the twenty-first century, and to require high schools to report on activities and results relative to that framework. Passed 50-18 by House, killed 6-29 by Senate. 

1280 revise certain provisions regarding public records and public meetings. Killed 12-0 by House State Affairs Committee. 

2009 – Prime sponsor of four Senate bills; three* became law. 

70* repeal the provision requiring a forty-eight hour waiting period to purchase a pistol. Passed 34-0 by Senate and 67-1 by House. Signed into law. 

73* permit persons sixteen years of age to donate blood under certain circumstances. Passed 34-0 by Senate and 70-0 by House. Signed into law. 

187* allow the merger or consolidation of a cooperative and its subsidiary. Passed 33-0 by Senate and 66-1 by House. Signed into law. 

188 provide for the appointment of members of the State Brand Board by district. Passed 24-8 by Senate, killed 10-3 by House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. 

2010 – Prime sponsor of three Senate bills; two* became law. 

79 revise certain format requirements relating to real estate documents to be filed with the register of deeds. Passed 32-0 by Senate, died after 5-7 vote by House Local Government Committee. 

89* exempt from federal regulation any firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition manufactured and retained in South Dakota. (Applied to any firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition that is manufactured commercially or privately in South Dakota and that remains within the borders of South Dakota) Passed 29-4 by Senate and 49-19 by House. Signed into law. 

96* provide for the continuation of the waiver of the collaborative agreement requirement for certified nurse midwives providing out-of-hospital birth services. Passed 23-11 by Senate and 59-2 by House. Signed into law. 

2011 – Prime sponsor of two Senate bills; two* became law. 

96* authorize an organization to contribute to a political action committee and to set a limit on contributions. Passed 29-6 by Senate and 57-12 by House. Signed into law. 

152* revise certain provisions concerning state aid to education, to revise and provide for the adjustment of the per student allocation for the state aid to general education formula, and to revise certain property tax levies for the general fund of a school district. Passed 28-7 by Senate, amended and passed 47-21 by House, Senate agreed 29-3. Signed into law. 

2012 – Prime sponsor of two Senate bills; one* became law. 

123* revise how the taxes are applied to rural electric companies. Passed 25-9 by Senate, amended and passed 64-2 by House, Senate agreed 31-3. Signed into law. 

124 revise per student allocation for state aid to education, to revise the property tax levies for the general fund of school districts, and to revise certain provisions concerning state aid and local effort. Tabled 23-11 by Senate. 

2013 – Prime sponsor of six Senate bills; four* became law. 

6* determine whether factors affecting productivity should be applied if the actual use of agricultural land does not correspond to the soil classification standards. Passed 24-11 by Senate and 59-8 by House. Signed into law. 

74* require the forfeiture of preference points for certain hunting licenses upon conviction of unlawfully killing, destroying, taking, or possessing trophy animals. Passed 34-0 by Senate and 70-0 by House. Signed into law. 

166* revise the number of years that permits to carry a concealed weapon are valid. (Changed to five years from four.) Passed 35-0 by Senate and 59-0 by House. Signed into law. 

191 increase state aid to education and revise certain provisions related to education funding. Killed 6-2 by Senate Appropriations Committee. 

195* revise the distribution of the wind energy tax. Final version passed 25-2 by Senate and 58-8 by House. Signed into law. 

207 make certain legislative findings concerning federal infringement on Second Amendment rights. Passed 29-4 by Senate, killed 8-4 by House State Affairs Committee. 

2014 – Prime sponsor of two Senate bills; zero became law.  

8 revise certain provisions concerning the assessment and taxation of real property. Killed 9-0 by Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. 

170 revise the structure for compensating surface owners for losses due to mineral development. Passed 21-13 by Senate, killed 8-4 by House Commerce and Energy Committee. 

2017 – Prime sponsor of five House bills; three* became law. 

1066* revise certain provisions regarding permits for the sale of certain trailers, motorcycles, and other vehicles. Passed 68-0 by House and 34-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1067 revise certain provisions concerning sales receipts maintained by temporary vendors. Killed 7-4 by House Commerce and Energy Committee. 

1068* revise certain provisions concerning landowner liability for certain injuries suffered. Passed 68-0 by House and 33-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1069* repeal and revise certain provisions related to campaign finance and to declare an emergency. (Repealed IM22 that South Dakota voters had passed 52-28 in 2016 election.) Passed 54-13 by House and 27-8 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1089 provide certain provisions regarding investigations of misconduct by certain public officials. Killed 65-2 by House. 

2018 – Prime sponsor of four House bills; three* became law. 

1081* repeal the sunset clause regarding the recreational use of nonmeandered water. Passed 51-12 by House and 20-15 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1083* revise certain provisions regarding permits to carry a concealed pistol and to declare an emergency. Passed 66-0 by House, amended and passed 30-1 by Senate, House agreed with Senate 63-3. Signed into law. 

1101* revise certain provisions regarding used motorcycles offered for sale at an event. Passed 64-0 by House and 34-0 by Senate. Signed into law. 

1261 accommodate legislation to improve municipal government. Placeholder bill killed 13-0 by House State Affairs Committee.