The fifth week has concluded, and only four weeks remain in the 99th Legislative Session. In the Senate, we have passed monumental wins that are tough on crime, fair on justice, and add protections for victims.

Senate Bill 9 is a bill that I brought forward very early in the session. This bill would extend the minimum time a prisoner can apply for a clemency hearing from one year to four years. This only applies to a select group of prisoners: those who committed a violent crime and who are sentenced to life in prison.

During the Janklow Administration, multiple executive clemencies were given out, and in response to this, the Parole Board was asked to hear more cases and make more recommendations; thus, the law changed.

However, this change wasn’t considerate to the victims of the most serious crimes. Families of these victims are traumatized by these hearings, and the Parole Board hasn’t been sensitive to this matter. In committee, a daughter testified that her mother was killed after being stabbed with a knife 17 times when she was just one year old. This was a murderfor- hire, and the family did not seek the death penalty. The Parole Board allowed a clemency hearing despite the horrific crime that took place years ago.

I have been working on this legislation for over a year as it impacts those close to home. In the first committee hearing, my colleagues felt that the Parole Board should decide if the hearing should happen, but this current practice harms victims. I was able to strip an amendment off on the Senate floor, bring the bill back to its original form, and pass the bill. This is only the second legislative step, and it will now be heard in House Judiciary. I encourage those passionate about this to email the House Judiciary Committee to call for swift passage of the bill in its original form.

Senate Bill 97 and Senate Bill 98 are bills that allow prior evidence to be allowed in the courts for sexual assault and child rape cases. It is difficult to understand why anyone would vote no on these bills, but there were some no votes. When they pass, these two bills will add protections for our most vulnerable, including our children. I continue to think of the crisis of sex trafficking, and I am very solid on my vote to punish first-time and repeat offenders.

As the final four weeks wind down, we will continue to hear difficult bills and fight the hard fights. I am a 5th generation Tripp County resident and don’t plan to back down from any of these last battles. Thank you for your support and please reach out with concerns. Remember to put District 21 in the subject heading for emails.

God Bless, Erin Tobin