SB165 makes extensive revisions to South Dakota's municipal government laws, affecting how cities handle mayor vacancies, council procedures, and various administrative processes. The bill clarifies succession rules when a mayor is temporarily absent or incapacitated (distinguishing this from a vacancy that requires appointment), streamlines procedures for filling vacant offices, and repeals outdated provisions while updating numerous other municipal governance sections. These changes modernize how South Dakota cities operate their day-to-day government functions.
The amendment restructured eligibility requirements for municipal office by simplifying the residency and voter qualification language while removing the prohibition on individuals who are "defaulters to the municipality," and it also clarified the appointment process for municipal officers by specifying that approval requires a "majority vote of all the members" rather than just "approval of the council." These changes NARROW the restrictions on who can hold office and add more procedural specificity to the appointment process.
Signed by the Governor S.J. 452
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 395
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 435
Signed by the President S.J. 365
House of Representatives Do Pass Passed, YEAS 50, NAYS 17. H.J. 397
Local Government Do Pass Passed, YEAS 10, NAYS 2.
Local Government Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Local Government H.J. 334
Senate Do Pass Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 0. S.J. 261
Local Government Certified uncontested, placed on consent
Local Government Do Pass Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0.
Local Government Scheduled for hearing
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Local Government S.J. 140
Do Pass
Local Government — Do Pass
Do Pass
Local Government — Do Pass