South Dakota Passes New Anti-Abortion Laws

Measures criminalize abortion pills, require prenatal videos in schools

Mar. 21, 2026 at 11:40am

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The Republican governor of South Dakota has signed three new anti-abortion bills into law, making it a felony to dispense or advertise abortion pills, clarifying the definition of abortion, and requiring public schools to show students videos about prenatal development. The laws strengthen the state's existing abortion ban, which took effect in 2022 after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Why it matters

The new laws in South Dakota further restrict access to abortion services and information in the state, which already has some of the most restrictive abortion policies in the country. The measures are part of a broader effort by anti-abortion lawmakers to limit reproductive rights in the wake of the Dobbs decision.

The details

The first new law expands the existing abortion ban by changing the term 'pregnant female' to 'person,' making the crime more expansive. It also creates a new felony for anyone who dispenses, distributes, sells or advertises abortion pills or related items. The second law specifies that certain pregnancy-related treatments are not considered abortions. The third law requires schools to show students videos depicting fetal development, with the videos barred from being produced by organizations that promote or perform abortions.

  • On March 20, 2026, South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed the three new anti-abortion bills into law.
  • The state's existing abortion ban, a trigger law adopted in 2005, took effect in 2022 after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The players

Larry Rhoden

The Republican governor of South Dakota who signed the three new anti-abortion bills into law.

Tamara Grove

A Republican state senator from Lower Brule who attended the bill signing.

Jon Hansen

The Republican speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives who attended the bill signing.

Marty Jackley

The Republican attorney general of South Dakota who attended the bill signing.

Leslee Unruh

The founder of the Alpha Center, a pregnancy resource center, who attended the bill signing.

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What they’re saying

“My signature today will strengthen South Dakota's pro-life laws.”

— Larry Rhoden, Governor of South Dakota

“If you believe a life is a life, and I do, it's not indoctrination to let others know that.”

— Larry Rhoden, Governor of South Dakota

“The laws signed by Gov. Rhoden diminish young South Dakotans' access to scientifically accurate sex education, interfere with doctors' ability to care for patients and turn pregnancy outcomes into crime scene investigations.”

— Samantha Chapman, Advocacy Manager, ACLU of South Dakota

What’s next

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota has indicated that it plans to challenge the new laws in court.

The takeaway

South Dakota's new anti-abortion laws represent the latest efforts by conservative lawmakers to restrict access to reproductive healthcare in the wake of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision. The measures are likely to face legal challenges, but they underscore the ongoing political battles over abortion rights in the United States.