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revise the time period allowable for certain covenants not to compete.

South Dakota law previously allowed employers and insurance companies to enforce non-compete agreements for up to two years after an employee or contractor leaves; this bill reduces that maximum period to one year. The change applies both to standard employment contracts and to agreements with captive insurance agents, making it easier for workers to compete in their former field sooner after leaving their job.

repeal provisions regarding manufactured and mobile home plumbing licenses and revise provisions regarding plumbing repair work.

SB29 removes South Dakota's requirement that plumbers obtain special licenses to work on manufactured and mobile homes. The bill also revises the rules around what types of plumbing repair work require licensing, streamlining the licensing requirements for plumbing professionals in the state.

repeal the high school graduation or equivalent requirement for certain licensed professionals.

Senate Bill 23 removes the requirement that advanced life support (paramedic) students and license applicants have a high school diploma or pass an equivalency test. Instead, people can pursue advanced life support training and licensing without meeting this education requirement, though they must still meet other qualifications like being at least 18 years old and passing required training and exams.

prohibit collective bargaining by certain employees of the Board of Regents.

SB 147 removes the right of certain employees who work for South Dakota's Board of Regents (which oversees the state university system) to engage in collective bargaining for wages and working conditions. The bill amends existing law that previously allowed these employees to organize and negotiate as a group with their employer.

modify requirements regarding the installation and inspection of certain electrical wiring.

This bill expands who can do their own electrical wiring without a license by allowing homeowners installing wiring in single-family homes under construction to skip the licensing requirement, as long as they own the property and plan to live there when it's finished. The change clarifies language in existing law and still requires inspection and fees for major electrical work like entrance installations over 60 amperes. Homeowners must still report this work or face misdemeanor charges.

provide authority for real estate brokers to conduct real property evaluations.

HB 1126 allows real estate brokers in South Dakota to perform property evaluations, a service they were previously not authorized to provide. The bill modifies licensing and regulatory requirements for real estate brokers to permit this expanded role in assessing property values.

revise certain educational requirements for the practice of barbering.

This bill allows barbering schools to count general education coursework that students complete elsewhere—like at other schools or programs—toward their barbering license requirements. The State Board of Barber Examiners can set rules for which types of credits qualify and how they apply to barbering training.

limit public employer consideration of certain criminal backgrounds.

South Dakota public employers (except the Department of Corrections and school districts) are now prohibited from asking job applicants about their criminal history or considering it until after an applicant has been selected for an interview. Public employers can still notify applicants upfront that certain criminal convictions will disqualify them from specific positions, and they can still conduct background checks if required by law for certain jobs.

revise certain provisions regarding cosmetology licensees.

South Dakota cosmetology schools and licensing programs must now give credit toward required coursework for general classes (like English or math) that students complete at other schools or institutions. The state cosmetology commission can set rules to decide which outside classes qualify and how to apply that credit toward licensure requirements.

adopt the Physical Therapist Licensure Compact.

South Dakota will join the Physical Therapist Licensure Compact, an interstate agreement that allows physical therapists licensed in one member state to practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses in each state. This makes it easier for physical therapists to work across state lines while maintaining consistent licensing standards among participating states.

revise provisions regarding the compensation of merchandise dealers for diagnostic and warranty work.

HB 1091 removes two sections of South Dakota law (§2-5-2 and §2-5-3) that governed how merchandise dealers are compensated when they perform diagnostic work and warranty repairs. By repealing these provisions, the bill eliminates the state's rules requiring dealers to be paid for this type of work.

revise requirements regarding hunting mentors.

HB1095 eliminates two existing state laws (sections 2-5-2 and 2-5-3) that contained requirements for hunting mentors in South Dakota. Without seeing the full text of those repealed sections, the bill removes whatever qualifications, responsibilities, or rules previously applied to people who mentor new hunters in the state.

provide for the reinstatement of a driver license under certain conditions.

This bill allows people convicted of certain driving violations (driving without insurance or driving with a suspended license) to get their driver's license reinstated immediately if they prove they have insurance and pay all fines and fees owed—bypassing the usual 30-day to one-year suspension period. However, this reinstatement option does not apply if the violation occurred at the scene of a car accident. The bill essentially gives judges less discretion and creates an automatic reinstatement pathway for drivers who meet these financial and insurance requirements.