SB131

Enacted···

revise the season in which a nonprofit organization may host a special pheasant hunt for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients.

Larry Zikmund,Tim Goodwin

Senate Bill·Introduced Jan 26, 2026·Last action Mar 30, 2026

Veterans & MilitaryWater & Natural Resources

Official Page

IntroducedIntro

In CommitteeCmte

Passed OriginPassed

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At GovernorGov

EnactedEnacted

SB131 allows nonprofit organizations to host free pheasant hunts for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients during South Dakota's private shooting preserve season. The bill defines "disabled veteran" as someone with at least a 20% service-connected disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs or who receives a specific level of VA compensation. The Game, Fish and Parks Commission will write the specific rules for how these special hunts operate.

AI-generated summary

Veteran benefitsBill would expand (relevance: 95%)Gun rightsBill would expand (relevance: 40%)

Changes to Existing Law

1 section affected127 words added92 words removed

View full diff

§ 41-11-5.5amended

Amendments

House Military and Veterans Affairs committeeTim Reisch131AAdopted

IntroducedEngrossed+471 −593

The amendment simplified the definition of "disabled veteran" by removing the separate criterion for forty-percent-disabled residents and consolidating eligibility to those with twenty-percent service-connected disabilities or special monthly compensation.

Senate floorno recorded amendment author

EngrossedEnrolled+835 −1063

The hunt timing was narrowed from "before or during the regular pheasant" season to exclusively "during the private shooting preserve season," and the definition of "disabled veteran" was simplified to remove the alternative criterion for active-duty service members.

View what amendments changed

History (17)

Mar 30, 2026S
Signed by the Governor S.J. 550
Mar 11, 2026S
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 520
Mar 10, 2026H
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 553
Mar 9, 2026S
Signed by the President S.J. 505
Mar 5, 2026S
Senate Concurred in amendments Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0. S.J. 479
Mar 3, 2026H
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 66, NAYS 0. H.J. 489
Feb 25, 2026H
Military and Veterans Affairs Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 12, NAYS 0. H.J. 3
Feb 25, 2026H
Military and Veterans Affairs Motion to amend H.J. 3
Feb 25, 2026H
Military and Veterans Affairs Scheduled for hearing
Feb 19, 2026H
Military and Veterans Affairs Scheduled for hearing H.J. 1
Feb 9, 2026H
First read in House and referred to House Military and Veterans Affairs H.J. 261
Feb 6, 2026S
Senate Do Pass Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0. S.J. 213
Feb 4, 2026S
Military and Veterans Affairs Certified uncontested, placed on consent
Feb 4, 2026S
Military and Veterans Affairs Do Pass Passed, YEAS 5, NAYS 0.
Feb 4, 2026S
Military and Veterans Affairs Scheduled for hearing
Jan 27, 2026S
Senate Referred to Senate Military and Veterans Affairs S.J. 121
Jan 26, 2026S
First Reading Senate S.J. 112