Jon Hansen

Jon Hansen (born December 30, 1985) 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 Speaker of the House, and is the former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 2019-2024. He previously served as a House Majority Whip from 2019-2020.

Hansen ran for Governor of South Dakota with fellow state representative Karla Lems as his running mate in the 2026 South Dakota gubernatorial election. He finished fourth in the Republican primary.

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. 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."

Leadership Positions Hansen currently serves as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Hansen currently serves as Chairman of the House Legislative Procedure Committee. House State Affairs Committee House State Affairs Committee House Transportation

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.

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. 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. 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. The 72-hour waiting period requirement was passed into South Dakota law in 2011 via House Bill 1217, which Hansen also co-sponsored. House Bill 1185 was signed into law by Governor Dennis Daugaard on March 19, 2012. 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." House Bill 1087 was signed into law by Governor Kristi Noem on March 29, 2019.

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[ing] to the taxpayers of the State of South Dakota, that [he] will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes."

In 2012, Hansen voted in favor of House Joint Resolution 1007, which "ropos[ed] and submitt[ed] to 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 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.

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

Electoral history