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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.

revise the boundaries of certain water development districts and to revise certain provisions regarding the election of the board of directors and the levying of taxes in the affected districts.

HB 1118 redraws the boundaries of certain water development districts in South Dakota and changes how their board members are elected and how they can collect taxes from property owners. The specific amendments to state law sections 13-39-75 and 13-55-42 expand and revise the rules governing these districts' operations and revenue collection methods.

revise provisions regarding the appointment of inactive watershed district boards and the reactivation of watershed districts and to declare an emergency.

HB 1166 makes it easier to get inactive watershed district boards up and running again by revising the rules for how board members are appointed and how districts can be reactivated. The bill declares this change an emergency so it takes effect immediately rather than waiting for the normal effective date.

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.

establish certain provisions regarding pore spaces.

This bill creates new state law establishing that landowners automatically own the pore spaces (natural cavities and voids) beneath their property, and this ownership cannot be separated from the surface land title. However, landowners can still lease out pore space to others, and the law doesn't affect any pore space deals that were already completed before July 1, 2020.

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.

revise certain provisions regarding water development districts.

HB 1058 adjusts the boundaries of the James River Water Development District to include specific townships in Marshall and Aurora counties, and clarifies the procedures for when board vacancies occur and how remaining directors fill those vacancies through an election process. The bill updates the geographic area served by this water district and standardizes the rules for replacing directors who leave office.

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.