Learning About Advocacy

LifeScape would like to share opportunities and updates related to issues involving advocacy.

Advocating for yourself or a loved one can be tough. It’s hard to know where to start, and you often must explain your concerns to many people, multiple times. Change is difficult, and asking others to think differently can be overwhelming. But in the end, advocacy can make a real difference, helping you or someone you love live their best life.

  • There are many ways to advocate:
    • You can send a letter or email
    • Tell your story live during a legislative session or via Zoom
    • Talking to legislators 1:1

Here’s an example of the good that can be accomplished by advocating. A Senate Resolution was passed in both the Senate and House in 2025, requiring the legislature to use person-centered language when constructing and reviewing all laws moving forward. 

This happened, because an individual with a disability reached out to their local state senator asking that this be made a priority. They, along with family members and others testified as well and it passed! A prime example of what advocacy can do!

Click here or check out the dropdown below called Suggestions for Legislative Testimony to see a testimonial suggestion.

2025 Senate Concurrent Resolution 607 _ South Dakota Legislature

When advocating for issues surrounding the topic of disability, you will most likely want to be changing policy or funding mechanisms. 

All of this is overseen by the Center for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) which is part of the federal government.  CMS then works with the local state offices, Department of Human Services (DHS), and Department of Social Services (DSS) which oversees Medicaid qualification and reimbursement. 

Under DHS is the Division of Disabilities (DD) which has the day-to-day oversight of managing and implementing disability services. 

Lastly, there is your Conflict Free Case Manager and the service provider who actually provide the services. 

The video below walks you through how the process works.

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To find your local Senator or House Representatives click here and follow the instructions.
Senate

Leadership

Speaker Pro Tem – Chris Karr (District 11)
(605) 695-0391
Chris.Karr@sdlegislature.gov

Majority Leader – Jim Mehlhaff (District 24)
(605) 280-3274
Jim.Mehlhaff@sdlegislature.gov

Assistant Leader – Carl Perry (District 3)
(605) 525-1876
Carl.Perry@sdlegislature.gov

Whips: 
Sue Peterson (District 13)
(605) 371-1668
Sue.Peterson@sdlegislature.gov

Kevin Jensen (District 16)
(605) 366-6947
Kevin.Jensen@sdlegislature.gov

Randy Diebert (District 31)
(605) 722-8133
Randy.Diebert@sdlegislature.gov

Tom Pischke (District 25)
(605) 999-2948
Tom.Pischke@sdlegislature.gov

Committee on Appropriations

Chair – Ernie Otten (District 6)
(605) 261-6305
Ernie.Otten@sdlegislature.gov

Vice Chair – Mark Lapka (District 23)
(605) 216-1625
Mark.Lapka@sdlegislature.gov

John Carley (District 29)
(605) 962-6145
John.Carley@sdlegislature.gov

Red Dawn Foster (District 27)
(605) 515-1668
RedDawn.Foster@sdlegislature.gov

Taffy Howard (District 34)
(605) 301-0593
Taffy.Howard@sdlegislature.gov

Paul Miskimins (District 20)
(605) 773-3821
Paul.Miskimins@sdlegislature.gov

Glen Vilhauer (District 5)
(605) 868-3239
Glen.Vilhauer@sdlegislature.gov

Mykala Voita (District 21)
(605) 830-1355
Mykala.Voita@sdlegislature.gov

Larry Zikmund (District 14)
(605) 373-0975
Larry.Zikmund@sdlegislature.gov

Health & Human Services

Chair – Kevin Jensen (District 16)
(605) 366-6947
Kevin.Jensen@sdlegislature.gov

Vice Chair – Sydney Davis (District 17)
(605) 770-7029
Sydney.Davis@sdlegislature.gov

Tamara Grove (District 26)
(605) 321-3812
Tamara.Grove@sdlegislature.gov

Carl Perry (District 3)
(605) 626-1876
Carl.Perry@sdlegislature.gov

Tim Reed (District 7)
(605) 691-0452
Tim.Reed@sdlegislature.gov

Jamie Smith (District 15)
(605) 351-4733
Jamie.Smith@sdlegislature.gov

Curt Voight (District 33)
(605) 209-7073
Curt.Voight@sdlegislature.gov

Leadership

Speaker – Jon Hansen (District 25)

(605) 610-8063

Jon.Hansen@sdlegislature.gov

Speaker Pro Tem – Karla Lems (District 16)

(605) 212-6998

Karla.Lems@sdlegislature.gov

Majority Leader – Scott Odenbach (District 31)

(605) 642-2622

Scott.Odenbach@sdlegislature.gov

Assistant Leader – Marty Overweg (District 21)

(605) 680-0304

Marty.Overweg@sdlegislature.gov

Whips: 

Bethany Soye (District 9)

(605) 610-8467 

Bethany.Soye@sdlegislature.gov

Greg Jamison (District 12)

(605) 310-1930

Greg.Jamison@sdlegislature.gov

Jessica Bahmuller (District 19)

(605) 359-9459 

Jessica.Bahmuller@sdlegislature.gov

Les Heinemann (District 25)

(605) 864-1274

Les.Heinemann@sdlegislature.gov

Brandei Schaefbauer (District 3)

(605) 290-6501 

Brandei.Schaefbauer@sdlegislature.gov

Committee on Appropriations 

Chair – Mike Derby (District 34)

(605) 381-0992

Mike.derby@sdlegislature.gov  

Vice Chair – Tony Venhuizen (District 13)

(605) 695-0777

Tony.Venhuizen@sdlegislature.gov

Terri Jorgenson (District 29)

(605) 238-6470

Terri.Jorgenson@sdlegislature.gov

Chris Kassin (District 17)

(605) 670-9698

Chris.Kassin@sdlegislature.gov 

Liz May (District 27)

(605) 441-7996

Liz.May@sdlegislature.gov

Scott Moore (District 23)

(605) 216-2617

Scott.Moore@sdlegislature.gov

Erik Muckey (District 15)

(605) 999-5036 

Erik.Muckey@sdlegislature.gov

Al Novstrup (District 3)

(605) 360-9711 

Al.Novstrup@sdlegislature.gov

John Sjaarda (District 2)

(605) 321-4073

John.Sjaarda@sdlegislature.gov

Health & Human Services

Chair – Brian Mulder (District 11)

(605) 759-3694

Brian.Mulder@sdlegislature.gov

Vice Chair – Les Heinemann (District 25)

(605) 864-1274

Les.Heinemann@sdlegislature.gov

Bobbi Andera (District 10)

(605) 773-3851

Bobbi.Andera@sdlegislature.gov

Heather Baxter (District 34)

(605) 388-0704

Heather.Baxter@sdlegislature.gov

Eric Emery (District 26A)

(605) 828-0608

Eric.Emery@sdlegislature.gov

Josephine Garcia (District 5)

(605) 773-3851

Josephine.Garcia@sdlegislature.gov

Jim Halverson (District 21)

(605) 840-2290

Jim.Halverson@sdlegislature.gov

Dylan Jordan (District 4)

(605) 520-4547

Dylan.Jordan@sdlegislature.gov

Tony Kayser (District 14)

(605) 773-3851

Tony.Kayser@sdlegislature.gov

Logan Manhart (District 1)

(605) 773-3851

Logan.Manhart@sdlegislature.gov

Rebecca Reimer (District 26B)

(605) 680-5349

Rebecca.Reimer@sdlegislature.gov

Taylor Rehfeldt (District 14)

(605) 391-4378 

Taylor.Rehfeldt@sdlegislature.gov

Brandei Schaefbauer (District 3)

(605) 290-6501

Brandei.Schaefbauer@sdlegislature.gov

  • When called to testify by the chair, be prepared to start immediately.
  • Acknowledge and thank the chair and committee for their time.
  • Introduce yourself: I am _____, the (parent/guardian) of _____.
  • Brevity is always better.
  • Stay on point. It’s best to write down your testimony as clear and short as possible. It’s vital you do not just start talking.
    • 1 – 2 sentences of history to help the committee better understand the person you represent.
    • 1 – 2 sentences of what the problem is.
    • 1 -2 sentences of what the solution or best outcome would look like.
    • A few sentences helping the committee understand why the problem exists and how they can help solve it.
    • In closing, ask for their help and offer to be available to answer any further questions.
  • The chair will manage the conversation, so only respond to questions that the chair approves.
  • Committees appreciate people with passion, but they also are looking for respectful and factual driven conversations. Too much of the human element will most likely not end well.
  • Visuals can be used, but getting them up and running will eat into your presentation time, so use them very carefully and only if truly needed to prove a point.
  • Your time will be limited (HHS committee is usually 3 minutes!)
    • You can respectfully ask for more time, but given their agendas, you may only gain another minute or so.
  • You can submit a broader written testimony prior to the hearing. That is a great way to get more facts and points of interest on the table. The goal is to get the legislator to ask your questions on their time, not yours.
  • Always end with a genuine and humble thank you to the chair and the committee. 
  • The committee will then take on the issue with further discussion and possible questions back to you, so be ready. The committee will then make a motion to pass or kill the bill and vote.
  • They front on public reaction to the outcome. You can thank them later if the vote goes your way.
  • Consider sending a thank you note a few days to a week later to the entire committee as it now has to go to the Senate or House floor for the bigger vote.
  • Floor vote requires 51% of the vote for policy and 67% of the vote for funding. This takes a lot conversations with members of House and Senate.
  • The process repeats on the other side of the floor.
  • Having others able to present their similar views is important. Associations are a great way to approach this.
  • Reaching out to your representatives prior to the testimony, asking for their advice, asking for their support is important.

Advocacy in Action

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Advocating for yourself or a loved one can be tough. It's hard to know where to start, and you often must explain your concerns to many people, multiple times.

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