Priorities for District 18
The priorities that guide Jean Hunhoff’s work come from the people of District 18, not from Pierre.
She listens to families, small business owners, health care professionals, and community leaders who want practical solutions instead of political noise.
These are the priorities she’s focused on throughout her public service and the work she’s ready to continue.
Supporting Working Families
Across Yankton and Clay County, parents are juggling full-time jobs and limited child care options. Jean believes that’s not a political issue, it’s a family issue.
She helped lead efforts like SB 125 (2024) to study statewide child-care needs and identify practical ways to expand access.
When that work produced real recommendations, Jean supported putting them into action by expanding licensed options, strengthening partnerships with employers, and supporting the child-care workforce.
Supporting working families means giving parents real choices. When families have access to reliable child care, they can decide what works best for them and their children.
Strengthening Communities Through Housing and Local Growth
Every strong community starts with attainable homes for the people who make it work: teachers, nurses, first responders, and small business owners.
Jean believes local leaders, not distant agencies, should decide how to grow. She supports tools that help communities invest responsibly in housing and infrastructure when they are transparent, accountable, and locally controlled.
As chair of the Joint Committee on Appropriations, Jean helped direct funding for community projects that created jobs and improved local infrastructure without putting long-term strain on taxpayers. She understands that TIFs and similar tools only work when they serve the community, not the other way around.
Jean believes the best solutions come from working together and finding common ground. Growth should fit the community, not divide it.
She will continue supporting practical approaches that respect local control, encourage collaboration, and keep South Dakota towns strong and affordable.
Keeping Our Communities Safe
Jean knows that public safety depends on trust, teamwork, and accountability.
She has worked with law enforcement, courts, and community programs to make sure the people who protect our neighborhoods have the tools and support they need.
Jean supports continued investment in prevention, rehabilitation, and victim services so families feel safe and communities remain strong. She believes strong partnerships between local agencies, mental health services, and the justice system are key to keeping people safe and helping those who need a second chance.
Public safety is not about politics or headlines. It is about neighbors looking out for one another and communities working together to create stability and trust.
Protecting Health Care Close to Home
Jean’s background in nursing gives her a firsthand understanding of what patients, families, and health care professionals face every day.
She has worked to strengthen hospitals, clinics, and long-term care services so people can access quality care close to home. During her time in the legislature, Jean supported bills like SB 196 (2023) to improve long-term care and HB 1078 (2023) to expand adult day programs that help families care for loved ones in their own communities.
Jean believes the best solutions come from listening to providers, patients, and local leaders to find common ground. She will continue supporting policies that strengthen rural health care, grow the workforce, and ensure that care decisions stay between patients and their providers.
Quality health care should be available to every South Dakotan, no matter where they live.
Preparing Students for Success through Strong Local Schools
Jean understands that strong schools build strong communities. She believes education should prepare students for success and reflect the values of local families.
During her time in the legislature, Jean supported investments in local schools, career and technical education, and teacher development programs that help students build skills for the future.
She believes decisions about education belong closest to home, with parents, teachers, and school boards working together to do what is best for students.
Jean will continue supporting practical solutions that keep classrooms focused on learning, strengthen the teacher workforce, and ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Honoring Our Veterans and Military Families
Jean’s commitment to veterans runs deep. It is personal. Her husband, Dan, served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and through him, Jean has seen the pride, discipline, and sacrifice that define military families.
She believes gratitude must be matched with action. Jean has worked with local and statewide veterans organizations to improve access to care, expand workforce opportunities, and strengthen mental health support.
Jean is committed to continuing that work, standing with the men and women who have served and the families who serve alongside them.
Protecting the Missouri River
The Missouri River is part of daily life in District 18, shaping the local economy, recreation, and natural beauty of the region.
Jean supported SB 7 (2024) to update the state’s water resources project list, ensuring responsible investments in flood protection, water quality, and recreation infrastructure.
She will continue advocating for balanced management that protects homes, businesses, and the river that connects and sustains our communities.
A Record That Matters
Jean doesn’t chase headlines.
She listens, learns, and delivers for the people of District 18.
Her record reflects years of work to strengthen health care, support working families, invest in education, and keep local communities strong. Jean’s leadership has always been guided by one simple principle: when people matter, experience matters.
When People Matter, Experience Matters
Jean Hunhoff
Republican for State Senate, District 18