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regulate capital outlay expenditures.

This bill creates a new limit on state spending for capital projects (like buildings and infrastructure), capping general fund spending at $3.31 per person in South Dakota based on the latest U.S. Census estimates. The cap applies to all capital outlay expenditures going forward, preventing the state from exceeding this per-person spending threshold.

To apply for a convention of states under Article V of the Constitution of the United States to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and to limit the terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress.

South Dakota is applying to Congress to call a national convention to propose constitutional amendments that would impose spending limits on the federal government, reduce federal power, and limit how long members of Congress and federal officials can serve. This is a request to participate in a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which requires states to apply before such a convention can be called.

make an appropriation for the payment of extraordinary litigation expenses and to declare an emergency.

This bill sets aside $800,000 from South Dakota's general fund to pay for extraordinary litigation expenses—legal costs the state faces in lawsuits. The money goes into a dedicated fund that the Bureau of Administration oversees, and the bill declares an emergency so the funding takes effect immediately rather than waiting for the normal budget cycle.

revise provisions authorizing state employees to opt-out of the state employee health plan and to declare an emergency.

State employees currently must enroll in the state health plan unless they can prove they have other health coverage (like through a spouse's plan or Medicare). This bill removes that requirement, allowing state employees to opt out of the state health plan without needing to show they have alternative coverage.

exempt vehicles owned by improvement districts from certain vehicle registration fees.

Improvement districts—local government entities that manage services like water, drainage, or rural fire protection—will no longer have to pay certain vehicle registration fees on the vehicles they own. This exemption reduces costs for these districts, which are typically funded by property taxes and fees from the landowners they serve.

repeal certain fees charged by a clerk of courts.

HB1086 eliminates two fee provisions that court clerks in South Dakota are currently authorized to charge (those listed in state law sections 2-5-2 and 2-5-3). This means people will no longer have to pay these specific clerk fees when conducting business in South Dakota courts.

remove the requirement for a ballot election in township elections if candidates are unopposed.

# HB 1144 Summary Township elections no longer require a formal ballot vote when all candidates running for a position are unopposed—instead, unopposed candidates are automatically elected. This change eliminates unnecessary election costs and procedures in townships where there is no actual contest between candidates.

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.

transfer funds from the budget reserve fund and to declare an emergency.

This bill transfers $16.7 million from South Dakota's budget reserve fund (money set aside for emergencies) to the general fund (the main state budget). The bill declares an emergency to allow this transfer to take effect immediately upon passage, rather than waiting for the normal effective date.

authorize the collection of certain search and rescue service costs.

This bill allows South Dakota and its local governments to bill individuals for search and rescue services provided in national parks, national forests, or state parks, up to a maximum of $1,000 per person rescued. Previously, there was no legal authorization for agencies to collect these costs from the people they rescued.

establish certain restrictions regarding funds from the state subsidized dual credit program for certain students.

This bill makes students financially responsible for the full cost of dual credit courses if they fail or withdraw after the deadline, whereas previously the state and student shared costs regardless of completion. The bill maintains the existing cost-sharing formula (33.3% student, 66.7% state) for students who successfully complete their courses.

revise and repeal provisions regarding aviation.

HB1066 caps the liability of municipalities operating airports at $5 million per accident or occurrence, regardless of the actual damages from injuries, deaths, or property damage. The bill also streamlines South Dakota's aviation definitions by removing outdated language and adding drones to the definition of "aircraft." These changes make it harder for people injured at municipal airports to recover full damages and update the state's aviation rules to reflect modern technology.

to remove the tax exemption for cosmetic medical procedures.

# HB 1160 Summary This bill removes the state sales tax exemption that currently applies to cosmetic medical procedures, meaning patients will now have to pay South Dakota sales tax when they receive procedures like Botox injections, facelifts, or other purely cosmetic treatments. The change generates additional tax revenue by treating cosmetic procedures the same as other taxable services, rather than giving them a special exemption.

remove the requirement for a mandatory appraisal in exchanges of land between school districts.

HB 1255 removes the requirement that school districts must obtain an appraisal whenever they exchange land with each other. This change simplifies the process for school districts to swap property without the added cost and time of getting a mandatory appraisal.

increase the bid limit for certain public improvements.

This bill raises the threshold at which South Dakota government agencies must publicly advertise for bids on construction projects from $50,000 to $100,000. Agencies will still need to advertise for bids on supply and service contracts over $25,000, but public improvement projects under $100,000 (instead of the previous $50,000) can now be awarded without the formal bidding process.

transfer the functions of the South Dakota Value Added Finance Authority to the South Dakota Economic Development Finance Authority and the South Dakota Board of Economic Development and to abolish the South Dakota Value Added Finance Authority.

SB 45 eliminates the South Dakota Value Added Finance Authority and transfers its responsibilities to two existing agencies: the South Dakota Economic Development Finance Authority and the South Dakota Board of Economic Development. This consolidation reduces the number of separate state finance agencies by combining their functions into established organizations.

authorize a county to assess an administration fee for the processing of certain title applications.

Counties in South Dakota will now be allowed to charge an administration fee when processing certain vehicle title applications. This change modifies the existing law that governs title application procedures, giving counties a new option to recover processing costs from applicants.

authorize the governing body of a second or third class municipality to act as a planning and zoning commission.

Second and third class cities in South Dakota can now have their city council act as the planning and zoning commission instead of creating a separate commission. This change streamlines local government by eliminating the need for cities to maintain a separate planning board if they choose not to.

revise certain provisions regarding motor vehicle license plates.

HB 1154 extends the timeline for redesigning South Dakota motor vehicle license plates from every five years to every ten years, giving the state more time between design changes. The bill also removes a temporary restriction that had frozen license plate design changes for 2011, allowing the state to proceed with its regular redesign schedule going forward.

revise certain provisions regarding the operation of the South Dakota Lottery.

This bill creates a "video lottery repeal and recovery fund" that would hold money to replace general fund revenue if South Dakota ever repeals its video lottery program in the future. The bill also prohibits the South Dakota Lottery from promoting or advertising any of its games through any medium.

appropriate money for the ordinary expenses of the legislative, judicial, and executive departments of the state, the expenses of state institutions, interest on the public debt, and for common schools.

HB1291 is the state's general appropriations bill that provides funding for the day-to-day operations of South Dakota's legislative, judicial, and executive branches, as well as state institutions, schools, and debt payments. The bill allocates taxpayer money across these government departments and programs for the fiscal year. This is a routine annual spending measure required to keep state government functioning.

appropriate money for the ordinary expenses of the legislative, judicial, and executive departments of the state, the expenses of state institutions, interest on the public debt, and for common schools.

HB1294 is South Dakota's main budget bill that appropriates state money for running the legislature, courts, executive branch agencies, state institutions, and public schools for the fiscal year. The bill sets aside funding to pay interest on the state's debt and ensures common schools receive their allocated resources. This is the comprehensive spending bill that determines how much money each major part of state government receives annually.

repeal provisions regarding the South Dakota Veterans Commission.

SB 156 repeals the provisions of state law that established and governed the South Dakota Veterans Commission. This removes the legal framework for the Commission's structure and operations from state statute.

revise Senate Bill 38, An Act to revise the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2020, as previously enacted by the Ninety-fifth Session of the South Dakota Legislature.

This bill adjusts the state budget for fiscal year 2020 by reallocating funds across several state agencies and programs. The Bureau of Finance and Management receives an additional $55.7 million in federal funds for computer services, while the Department of Social Services sees reductions in general funding for medical services and children's services, though some of these cuts are offset by increases in federal funding for those same programs.

provide for the designation of an appropriate regional facility by the Department of Social Services.

The Department of Social Services can now designate private or regional facilities as approved alternatives to state psychiatric hospitals for people being held for emergency mental health evaluation. These designated facilities must meet specific requirements, including 24/7 availability, overnight residential services, and on-site medical staff, allowing more flexibility in where people in mental health crises can be admitted and treated.

limit gifts to directors or employees of certain government districts.

Regional recycling and waste management districts, water development districts, water project districts, irrigation districts, and water user districts are now prohibited from using district funds to give gifts worth $100 or more in a calendar year to their own directors or employees. This new rule prevents these government districts from using public money to benefit their own leadership and staff through gifts.

repeal the Department of Labor and Regulation's retirement plan and to transfer plan members and funds to the South Dakota Retirement System.

SB9 eliminates the Department of Labor and Regulation's separate retirement plan and moves all its members and their accumulated funds into South Dakota's main state retirement system. This consolidation simplifies the state's retirement structure by having Labor and Regulation employees participate in the same retirement plan as other state workers.

provide for a review of occupational regulation.

This bill creates a new chapter in state law establishing definitions for occupational regulations, including terms like "occupational licensure," "certification," and "lawful occupation." The law sets up a framework for reviewing how South Dakota regulates different professions and distinguishes between government-required licenses, voluntary certifications, and private certifications. This appears to be the foundation for a broader review process to examine which occupations actually need state regulation.

Proposing and submitting to the electors at the next general election, an amendment to Article XII of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, relating to the creation of the property tax relief trust fund and to provide for the transfer of unobligated cash.

This proposed constitutional amendment would create a new Property Tax Relief Trust Fund and allow the state to transfer unobligated cash (money not yet committed to spending) into it. Voters would decide whether to approve this amendment at the next general election. The fund would provide a mechanism for dedicating state money specifically toward property tax relief for South Dakota residents.

impose a severance tax on the quarrying of certain minerals.

SB 122 creates a new severance tax on companies that quarry certain minerals in South Dakota. The tax applies to mineral extraction operations and generates state revenue from this natural resource use.

revise the purposes for which a school district's capital outlay fund may be used.

SB 174 expands what school districts can use their capital outlay funds for by revising the purposes allowed under state law. The bill broadens the types of projects and expenses that districts can pay for with these funds, which are typically reserved for major building and infrastructure improvements.

provide exemptions from certain requirements for the 2019-2020 school year and to declare an emergency.

During the 2019-2020 school year, South Dakota school districts are exempt from several education requirements, including certain accountability system standards and standardized testing requirements that would normally apply. Students in grades 4, 8, and 11 receiving alternative instruction are also waived from taking nationally standardized achievement tests for that year. The bill declares an emergency so these exemptions take effect immediately.

revise the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2020.

This bill adjusts funding amounts for several South Dakota state agencies in the fiscal year 2020 budget, including increases for employee compensation at the Bureau of Finance and Management and changes to the Department of Revenue and Department of Social Services budgets. The adjustments involve shifting money between different funding sources (general funds, federal funds, and other funds) and adding one full-time employee position to the Department of Revenue's business tax division. These are routine mid-year budget revisions to align spending with actual needs.

revise provisions regarding the issuance of certain military specialty plates.

This bill establishes fees for military specialty license plates in South Dakota. Veterans receiving disabled veteran, Prisoner of War, Pearl Harbor survivor, or Purple Heart plates will pay $10 for the initial plate and $10 annually for renewals, but are exempt from regular vehicle registration fees. Medal of Honor plate holders are completely exempt from all registration and plate fees.

restrict the use of funds for abortion.

This bill creates new state law restricting how public funds can be used related to abortion services. It defines "elective abortion" (excluding cases involving threats to the mother's life, fetal health problems, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or pregnancies from rape or incest) and "abortion referral," and sets up rules to prevent state money from going to organizations that perform or refer women for elective abortions. The bill appears to be the first section of a larger law that would establish these restrictions in detail.

increase the state's percentage of video lottery revenues, to provide for the deposit of certain excess revenues, and to repeal provisions regarding video lottery.

HB 1250 increases the percentage of video lottery revenues that go to the state rather than to venues where machines are located. The bill also specifies how any excess revenues above certain amounts must be deposited and removes outdated provisions from state video lottery law.