South Dakota HC8023: honoring the legacy and strength of grandmothers in this state.

What the bill says

From the enrolled text, March 10, 2026:

2026 House Commemoration 8023 - SD Legislature honoring the legacy and strength of grandmothers in this state. South Dakota Legislature House Commemoration 8023 Introduced by: Representatives Pourier, Aylward, Emery, Gosch, Lems, Moore, Reisch, Roby, and Shorma and Senators Foster, Duhamel, Perry, and Zikmund A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION honoring the legacy and strength of grandmothers in this state. WHEREAS, grandmothers form the quiet backbone of communities, providing an example of love, wisdom, and resilience for generations; and WHEREAS, grandmothers are the bedrock of families, often stepping in as caregivers, providers, and nurturers when circumstances demand, raising grandchildren with the same devotion they gave their own children; and WHEREAS, in Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota traditions, grandmothers, known as unci, embody sacred authority as wisdom keepers, ceremonial leaders, and decision-makers whose guidance ensures cultural continuity, language preservation, and the passing of ancestral teachings to the sacred children; and WHEREAS, grandmothers of all backgrounds in this state sacrifice daily to feed, clothe, educate, and protect their families, volunteering in schools, churches, and tribal programs while modeling hard work, thrift, forgiveness, and the grit required to thrive on the farm, ranch, reservation, or city block; and WHEREAS, grandmothers teach by example the values of hospitality, humility, prayer, and perseverance, standing firm against hardship, addiction, loss, or division, while lifting others with encouragement and steadfast faith; and …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Red Foster (D, SD-027) · primary sponsor
• Peri Pourier (R, HD-027) · primary sponsor
• Aaron Aylward (R, HD-006)
• Helene Duhamel (R, SD-032)
• Eric Emery (D, HD-026)
• Spencer Gosch (R, HD-023)
• Karla Lems (R, HD-016)
• Scott Moore (R, HD-023)
• Carl Perry (R, 03)
• Tim Reisch (R, HD-008)
• Matt Roby (R, HD-005)
• William Shorma (R, HD-017)

Latest actions

1. March 4, 2026: Commemorations

Common questions

What is HC8023?

HC8023 is a bill in the South Dakota Legislature (101st Legislature (2026)): honoring the legacy and strength of grandmothers in this state.

What is the status of HC8023?

Introduced as of March 4, 2026. Latest action: Commemorations (March 4, 2026).

Who sponsored HC8023?

Red Foster (D, SD-027), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HC8023?

On the South Dakota Legislature website: https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/27344