Profiles in Courage: Kansas Rep. Rebecca Schmoe (R) and South Dakota Sen. Jim Mehlhaff (R)

Across the country, Americans are increasingly wary of policies that promise safety but risk undermining constitutional rights, expanding surveillance, exposing sensitive data, or creating unintended consequences. Restoring trust between Americans and policymakers demands principled leadership and the willingness to stand apart when it matters most. In Kansas and South Dakota, two state lawmakers have done exactly that. Kansas Rep. Rebecca Schmoe (R) and South Dakota Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff (R) have distinguished themselves for their commitment to protecting consumer privacy and safeguarding children ― without sacrificing their constituents’ First Amendment rights. For doing the right thing and opposing brazenly unconstitutional age verification proposals, Rep. Schmoe and Sen. Mehlhaff are Profiles in Courage.

In Kansas, Rep. Schmoe faced a pivotal moment when SB 372, the “App Store Accountability Act,” arrived in the House after sailing through the Senate with strong support. Momentum was clearly on the bill’s side. Yet Schmoe, serving as Vice Chair of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, took the decisive step of moving to send the bill back to the conference committee. The motion ultimately passed, effectively ending the bill’s prospects for the session.

This was no routine procedural maneuver. It was a deliberate act grounded in serious concerns about privacy, implementation, and the long-term consequences of expanded data collection. Schmoe made clear that the answers provided by proponents raised more questions than they answered, warning that the bill risked opening the door to unchecked and invasive data handling. She recognized that despite its good intentions, the proposal could unleash forces lawmakers might later struggle to rein in. As a mother and grandmother, she recognized the importance of establishing real protections for kids and teens on the internet―not rushing through a “solution” that would create a data gold mine for bad actors. By taking this stand, she halted a flawed proposal in its tracks and gave voice to colleagues who shared her concerns but needed leadership to act.

In South Dakota, Senate Majority Leader Mehlhaff demonstrated a different but equally impactful form of leadership to protect his constituents’ online security and privacy. When HB 1275—another age verification mandate—reached the Senate after passing the House, Mehlhaff occupied two critical roles, leader of the chamber and chair of the committee tasked with evaluating the bill. In that capacity, he ensured a thoughtful and rigorous examination of its implications. The result was a narrow but decisive committee vote to stop the legislation.

As a father of two, Mehlhaff recognized the proposal’s dual threat to user privacy and parents’ rights. His argument reflected not only sound judgment but thoughtful preparation and valuable experience.

What unites Schmoe and Mehlhaff is a shared commitment to getting policy right on one of the most important issues of the day: protecting people, but especially children, from online harms. Both recognized that well-intentioned efforts to protect children can, if poorly designed, erode privacy and create new risks. Both chose to slow the process, ask hard questions, and ultimately hold the line on privacy, security, and First Amendment protections.

Their actions echo a broader truth. Courage in public service often means resisting momentum, not riding it. As seen in other contexts where accountability and transparency are essential to rebuilding trust, leadership requires vigilance against unintended consequences and a willingness to prioritize principle over politics.

Rep. Rebecca Schmoe and Sen. Jim Mehlhaff have set that example through their steadfast defense of consumer privacy and constitutional rights. For continuing to fight this critical fight, the two lawmakers are Profiles in Courage.