Search Bills

make an appropriation from the coordinated natural resources conservation fund to the State Conservation Commission and to declare an emergency.

HB1027 provides funding from South Dakota's coordinated natural resources conservation fund to the State Conservation Commission to support conservation efforts. The bill declares this spending an emergency, allowing the appropriation to take effect immediately rather than waiting for the normal budget process.

Supporting the Recovering America's Wildlife Act.

HCR 6011 is a resolution expressing South Dakota's support for the federal Recovering America's Wildlife Act, which would provide funding to states for wildlife conservation and habitat restoration projects. The resolution makes a minor amendment to state law to align with this position, though the specific details of that amendment are not clearly shown in the provided text. This is a symbolic measure showing the state's backing for increased federal wildlife funding rather than a substantive change to how South Dakota manages its own wildlife.

provide for a habitat stamp on hunting and fishing licenses.

South Dakota hunters and fishermen aged 18 and older would be required to purchase a $10 habitat stamp (or $25 for nonresidents) when getting a hunting or fishing license, with exemptions for one-day licenses, youth licenses, and landowner licenses. The stamp revenue would be dedicated to improving wildlife habitat and public access on public lands and waters, with fishing-only stamp fees going exclusively to aquatic projects and hunting-only fees going to terrestrial habitat programs. Violating the habitat stamp requirement would be a Class 2 misdemeanor.

permit modification of the term of a perpetual conservation easement after the death of the grantor.

HB 1238 allows landowners to modify the terms of a perpetual conservation easement after the original landowner dies, giving their heirs more flexibility to adjust these long-term land restrictions. The bill amends state laws governing conservation easements and repeals two outdated provisions that previously prevented such modifications. This change lets families adapt conservation agreements to changing circumstances while still preserving the easement's conservation purposes.

require a habitat stamp for certain hunting, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and jet skiing activities.

This bill creates a new habitat stamp requirement for South Dakota residents and visitors ages 18 and older who hunt, fish, canoe, kayak, or use jet skis on public waters, costing $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. The stamp is valid for one license period and must be purchased each period (except for one-day, youth, and landowner hunting licenses), with money from water-based activities going specifically toward aquatic habitat and access projects. Failing to obtain the required stamp is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

provide for the prevention of aquatic invasive species contamination in public waters and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota is creating a new law to prevent aquatic invasive species (non-native plants and animals that harm the environment or economy) from spreading into public waters like lakes and rivers. The law defines key terms like "conveyance" (boats and equipment that can hold water), "decontamination" (cleaning processes to kill invasive species), and "inspection" (checking boats for contamination). The bill treats this as an emergency, meaning it can take effect immediately to protect South Dakota's waterways.

Supporting the continued operation of the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery.

This concurrent resolution expresses South Dakota's support for continuing operations at the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery in Spearfish, which supplies trout to state waters and generates significant economic benefits for the region. The resolution highlights that the hatchery produces over $2.1 million in annual economic activity for Spearfish and supports South Dakota's fishing industry, which generates hundreds of millions in angler spending statewide. While this is a resolution rather than a law change, it signals the state legislature's commitment to maintaining this federal facility's operations.

fund shooting sports programs in public schools and to enhance outdoor recreational activities in the state.

HB1256 creates a new "rod and gun fund" to support shooting sports programs in public schools by directing half of the occupancy tax revenue from lodging and campgrounds to this fund. The bill modifies the existing visitor tax structure to split occupancy tax proceeds between the current tourism promotion fund and the new rod and gun fund for outdoor recreational activities.

make an appropriation for the plugging and surface reclamation of natural gas wells and to declare an emergency.

This bill provides $727,700 from the state general fund to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to plug abandoned natural gas wells and restore the land where they're located. The department secretary must approve all work before it begins, and any money not spent will be returned to the general fund. The bill declares an emergency so the funding takes effect immediately.

make an appropriation from the water and environment fund and its revolving fund subfunds for various water and environmental purposes, to revise the water resources projects list, and to declare an emergency.

This bill appropriates $11.3 million from the state's water and environment fund to support water projects through grants and loans to local sponsors. The bill also updates the state's priority water resources projects list to include nine specific projects, such as the Belle Fourche irrigation upgrade, Lewis and Clark rural water system, and Sioux Falls flood control project.

establish dates for the mowing of ditches on the state trunk highway system.

This bill requires the state Transportation Commission to set specific dates for when ditches can be mowed along state highways, with earlier mowing allowed in western counties (June 15th) and later mowing required in counties east of the Missouri River (July 10th). The bill also ensures that landowners whose property borders these ditches get priority to do the mowing themselves. These new mowing dates aim to protect native prairie grasses and wildlife during their critical early growth season.

accommodate legislation regarding conservation districts.

This bill is a placeholder that allows the legislature to make technical adjustments to conservation district laws if needed during the legislative process. It doesn't make any specific changes to conservation district rules itself, but rather creates the legal authority for future modifications to be made to §22-42-1 (the conservation district statute) without requiring a separate bill.