Minority Leader Healy: Reflections on 2026 session and battles for fairness, freedom and dignity for all

With veto day behind us, the 2026 legislative session has come to a close, offering a moment to reflect not just on what passed, but what was and was not prioritized.

Throughout the session, Democrats stayed focused on the everyday realities facing South Dakotans. While debate in Pierre can feel removed from daily life, we consistently heard the same concerns: rising costs, limited access to childcare, underfunded schools, and uncertainty around health care. Those concerns shaped our work from start to finish

As families face higher costs at the grocery store and gas pump, we introduced proposals to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries in a fiscally responsible way. While those efforts were not successful this year, they moved the conversation forward and made clear there are real paths to relief, and we will keep pushing.

We also opposed efforts to shift the burden onto taxpayers through property tax proposals that primarily benefit those who already own homes, rather than delivering broad-based relief. That approach is regressive, and we believe grocery tax relief is a fairer and more effective way to help South Dakotans.

We also prioritized working families by addressing access to food. We all stood behind Rep. Kadyn Wittman’s bill to expand free and reduced-price school meal eligibility. Its passage means more South Dakota kids will be able to eat breakfast and lunch at school without families worrying about the cost. This is a practical solution that helps kids stay focused in the classroom and takes pressure off schools dealing with unpaid meal balances.

Protecting health care access, especially in rural communities, remained critical. We supported funding for Critical Access Hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers to help stabilize essential services in areas where options are already limited. At the same time, we defended Medicaid expansion, recognizing its importance in keeping individuals and families covered.

There were also key moments where Democrats pushed back on harmful proposals that would have taken our state in the wrong direction. That included legislation targeting immigrant communities, restricting access to elections, attacks on bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom, and bills singling out LGBTQ+ South Dakotans. Standing up against these efforts is a core part of ensuring fairness, freedom, and dignity for all.

Serving in the minority comes with challenges, but also a responsibility to advocate clearly and consistently for policies that improve people’s lives. That work does not end with this session’s adjournment. We will continue meeting this summer for interim studies, developing legislation for next year, and staying engaged with communities across the state.

Please keep in touch with us.

State Rep. Erin Healy of Sioux Falls represents District 10 and is the Democratic minority leader for the House of Representatives. She sits on the House State Affairs and Legislative Procedure committees. Contact her at Erin.Healy@sdlegislature.gov.

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