Senate confirms Tonus H. Van Heisen as South Dakota lieutenant governor; he is sworn in

The South Dakota Senate on a unanimous roll-call vote confirmed Tonus H. Van Heisen as lieutenant governor and then administered the oath of office, making him the chamber's presiding officer.

The confirmation came after the Senate select committee on the nomination returned the nomination with a recommendation that the Senate confirm Van Heisen. The chamber adopted Senate Resolution 701 by voice and then by roll-call vote, which the secretary recorded as 35 yeas and 0 nays. The House later transmitted its adoption of a corresponding measure (H.R. 7001) to the Senate for concurrence.

The confirmation matters because it fills the second-highest executive office in South Dakota and places the newly confirmed lieutenant governor in the constitutional role of presiding officer of the Senate. The nomination was considered by a select committee and brought to the floor under the procedures the chamber follows for executive appointments.

Committee chair Senator Chris Carr reported the select committee's recommendation that "the Senate do confirm Tonus H. Van Heisen as Lieutenant Governor," and several senators spoke in support. Senator Melhoff told colleagues he had served with Van Heisen and praised his preparation and professionalism. Senator Larson, who also sat on the confirmation committee, described Van Heisen as “thoughtful, experienced, and trusted,” and urged colleagues to support the nomination.

After the roll call, the presiding officer announced the resolution adopted. The House clerk, Patricia Miller, later transmitted a message advising that the House had adopted its confirming resolution as well. The Senate then proceeded to the formal oath. The oath was administered on the Senate floor with Van Heisen placing his left hand on his grandfather's Bible and repeating the oath: "I, Tonys Henry Van Heisen, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, and I will faithfully discharge the duties of the lieutenant governor of the state of South Dakota. So help me God." After the oath, Van Heisen thanked Governor Rounds for the appointment, recognized family in the gallery, and said it would be his “great honor to serve in this chamber as president of the Senate.”

Senators who spoke in support emphasized his experience in state government and his family’s long history of service in the chamber. Van Heisen said he would learn the procedural duties of presiding and asked senators for patience as he acclimates to the role.

The Senate formally recorded the committee recommendation, the roll-call vote (35–0), and the subsequent oath; the House concurrence (H.R. 7001) was transmitted to the Senate during the same session.