South Dakota House of Representatives · District 3
Al Novstrup
District 3 State Representative
South Dakota Roots. South Dakota Values.
Al and Kathy began as college sweethearts, building a lifelong marriage and a family that includes their two children, David and Linda, and six grandchildren. Both David and his wife Holly and Linda her husband Ryan, along with grandson Andrew, work in the family business. In addition to her role in the company, Kathy has served on staff at Aldersgate Church for 26 years.
The Novstrup family commitment to community is demonstrated at Allevity Entertainment, Thunder Road at Wylie Park, and Thunder Road of Sioux Falls. Al and Kathy manage the Aberdeen locations with their son David and daughter-in-law Holly, while daughter Linda and son-in-law Ryan, and grandson Andrew lead the Sioux Falls team. These family-owned venues employ about 100 people and offer a variety of attractions, from seasonal go-karts to year-round indoor laser tag and dining, spanning three generations of hands-on leadership.
Al Novstrup is a fourth-generation South Dakotan, raised with the work ethic of the family farm. His father, his grandfather and his great grandfather were South Dakota farmers. Growing up on the family farm, Al learned the values of hard work and perseverance that still guide him today. Al's entrepreneurial spirit first took root during his student years, when he founded Novstrup Barn Painting—a company he managed and grew to include employees while still a student.
In 1982, Al returned to Aberdeen to start his second company, building on the entrepreneurial spirit he first showed as a student. He spent the next 18 years as a leader in the local technology sector, owning Computer Specialists aka MicroAge Computers and specializing in the sales and service of personal computers like Apple, IBM, and Compaq and installed and supported accounting software such as Great Plains and QuickBooks.
With over 20 years in the House and Senate, this service is defined by a commitment to common values and common sense. Often described as a voice of reason, the focus remains on building relationships to deliver results for Aberdeen and all South Dakotans. Key leadership includes serving as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, overseeing the state's multi-billion dollar budget, and Chairman of the Revenue Subcommittee, with responsibility for setting the revenue projection at $2,551,340,518 to ensure a balanced, responsible approach to funding state priorities.
From dam safety to classroom reform, Al's work in the 2026 session produced real, lasting results for our community.
SB 121 is a significant piece of legislation focused on safety for the Aberdeen area, signed into law by the Governor on March 30, 2026. The bill facilitates the replacement of the Richmond Lake dam and spillway — a critical infrastructure project that protects the surrounding community. A total of $8,212,497 was appropriated specifically for the project. An emergency clause was included, meaning the bill took effect immediately upon signing to allow construction work to begin without delay.
The bill saw strong bipartisan support and was a key priority for the local delegation. It was championed by primary sponsors Al Novstrup and Carl Perry. As Vice Chair of House Appropriations, Al introduced a key amendment (121C) during the committee process to refine the bill and ensure the funding was properly structured before final passage.
HB 1262 — Solving the Problem of Violent Students
HB 1262 provides $2,000,000 for a new school in Aberdeen scheduled to open in August 2026, specifically designed for violent students and providing an environment that integrates necessary mental health support with their learning. Prime sponsored by Representative Lana Greenfield, Al testified in support of the bill both in committee and on the House floor. As Vice Chair of House Appropriations, he helped ensure this critical funding was secured.
HB 1017 — Safer, More Effective Classrooms
Passed as a companion bill to HB 1262, HB 1017 establishes the legal authority for school boards to transition disruptive students into therapeutic settings. Together, this dual-bill approach delivers safe environments for classmates, fiscal responsibility by using existing state allocations without raising costs, and better teacher retention by creating more manageable classroom conditions.
Signed into law on March 30, 2026, HB 1140 empowers courts to prioritize rehabilitation by directing drug addicts and offenders to faith-based organizations such as Teen Challenge. Al partnered with prime sponsor Representative John Hughes — Hughes navigated the necessary policy through the legislature while Al, as Vice Chair of House Appropriations, secured the funding required to make this path to rehabilitation a reality for South Dakotans.
Teen Challenge delivers proven results: approximately 78% of graduates remain substance-free and crime-free — twice the success rate of traditional recovery and correctional programs — at roughly half the daily cost of housing an individual in prison. This means better outcomes for individuals and their families while meaningfully reducing the burden on South Dakota taxpayers.
Principled, consistent, and fighting for the people of South Dakota — not special interests.
Al has voted 100% of the time to defend unborn babies and support mothers. He believes life begins at conception and that every life deserves protection. As Senate Prime Sponsor of HB 1217, he established a 72-hour reflection period to protect women from coercion and outside pressure — ensuring that life-altering decisions are made freely and with full information.
Al backed SB 245 to return excess sales tax revenue directly to taxpayers rather than expanding government programs. When the state collects more than it needs, that money belongs to the people who earned it — not to Pierre. Al believes South Dakotans who paid those taxes deserve them back, and he will continue fighting to keep government lean and taxes low.
Al is firmly opposed to CO2 pipelines crossing South Dakota. He stands against the use of eminent domain for private corporate gain, wasteful government subsidies propping up unproven technology, and the serious safety risks these high-pressure lines pose to families, livestock, and first responders. Your land is your legacy — and Al will defend your right to keep it.
Al opposes "Hyper Data Center" tax breaks that give out-of-state billionaires a sales tax exemption while South Dakota small businesses pay the full rate. These carve-outs distort the market and put local entrepreneurs at a disadvantage. Al believes the tax code should be fair and consistent — it should not pick winners and losers based on who has the best lobbyists.
As Vice Chair of House Appropriations and Chairman of the Revenue Subcommittee, Al is one of the most influential voices in how South Dakota spends its money. He uses that position to ensure Aberdeen's priorities — from infrastructure and dam safety to schools and local development — are heard and funded. Experience matters when it comes to delivering for your community.
One of only 10 South Dakotans invited to President Reagan's White House Conference on Small Business, Al has championed free enterprise his entire career. As a multi-generational small business owner himself, he understands the challenges entrepreneurs face. Al has always stood with local business owners — not out-of-state corporations — and will keep fighting for a free market that works for every South Dakotan.
One of 10 South Dakotans invited to President Ronald Reagan's White House Conference on Small Businesses, with an emphasis on free enterprise.
The Novstrup family was honored as the South Dakota Family-Owned Small Business of the Year in 2022.
As the sole legislator on a March 2026 South Dakota Trade Mission led by Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen, Al Novstrup promoted South Dakota pork, corn, soybeans, and beef to Japanese and South Korean markets.
The Eagle Award is a prestigious honor granted to only one individual in South Dakota each year. Awarded by the South Dakota Newspaper Association, it recognizes an exceptional commitment to open government and the citizens' right to know. Al is proud to join a select group of past honorees, including:
Al Novstrup has spent decades fighting for Aberdeen and South Dakota. Help keep that voice in Pierre.
📱 Contact Al directly: 605-360-9711
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