South Dakota stiffens penalty for disrupting worship, in response to ICE protests elsewhere

By: Meghan O'Brien

Outlets: South Dakota Searchlight

Published: March 10, 2026

Words: 252

Last Updated: 4 months, 4 weeks ago

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PIERRE — The crime of preventing religious practices by threat or violence will change from a misdemeanor to a felony in South Dakota, in response to out-of-state protests against immigration enforcement actions.

State Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff, R-Pierre, and state House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, sponsored the bill in coordination with Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden, who signed it into law Tuesday. It increases the punishment for any person who, by threat or …

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