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facilitate legislative oversight of settlement agreements involving a state entity or official.

HB1041 requires state agencies and officials to send copies of all settlement agreements to the Legislature's Executive Board and Government Operations and Audit Committee within 30 days of signing them. The bill also makes it illegal for settlement agreements to include confidentiality clauses that would prevent state officials from disclosing facts about these settlements to those legislative committees.

require informational transparency regarding the issuance of executive orders.

This bill requires the Governor to appear before the Legislative Research Council's Executive Board within two weeks of issuing, changing, or canceling an executive order to explain the order's purpose, reason, and any costs or restrictions it imposes on businesses, government, or residents. The hearing must be open to the public both in person and online, with opportunities for citizens to testify and submit written comments. This transparency requirement does not apply to emergency executive orders issued under the state constitution.

modify legal and official notice publication requirements.

This bill requires newspapers publishing legal notices to also post those notices on a statewide website maintained by a newspaper association, and to include a link to that website on their own website or make notices freely accessible online. It also updates the rules for what qualifies as a "legal newspaper" by allowing publications distributed in electronic format to count toward the distribution requirements, not just printed copies.

require an annual report on nonmeandered waters.

South Dakota's Department of Game, Fish and Parks must now submit an annual report by September 1st each year (instead of a one-time report by June 2019) on nonmeandered lakes—including data on public access acres, landowner agreements, failed negotiations, and violations. The Legislature's Executive Board must then hold public hearings to discuss the report and hear from both landowners and recreational users about these waters.

establish a process for requesting records prepared or maintained by court services officers.

South Dakota court services officer records are currently confidential, but this bill creates a formal process for people to request access to those records during court cases. Anyone seeking these records must file a motion explaining why they need the information, how it relates to their case, and why they can't get it another way—and the court will hold a hearing before deciding whether to grant access. This gives people a clear legal pathway to challenge the confidentiality rather than leaving access entirely up to the court's discretion.

revise oversight and reporting requirements concerning cannabis.

HB 1136 adds new reporting requirements to South Dakota's medical cannabis oversight by requiring the Department of Public Safety, Attorney General, and other agencies to annually report to the Legislature on cannabis-related arrests, traffic incidents, and enforcement violations. The bill also expands the Department of Health's existing annual report to include more detailed patient information like age, sex, and medical conditions, plus data on hospitalizations and emergency room visits related to cannabis use. These changes give lawmakers more comprehensive information about how the cannabis program is operating and its public health and safety impacts.

direct the Indian Education Advisory Council to make an annual report to the Governor and the State-Tribal Relations Committee.

This bill requires the Indian Education Advisory Council to submit a written annual report to the Governor and the State-Tribal Relations Committee by January 1st each year. The council, which includes representatives from South Dakota's nine tribes and Native American educators, will now be held accountable for reporting on its work to support Indian education and cultural awareness in the state's schools.

require the posting of syllabi and course information.

South Dakota's public universities must now post detailed course information online at least 30 days before registration opens, including syllabi with major assignments, reading lists, and lecture topics; instructor credentials like education and teaching experience; and recent departmental budgets. All this information must be searchable and accessible to the public without requiring a login or password. This creates a new transparency requirement for state-controlled higher education institutions.

clarify certain public meeting requirements.

HB1255 clarifies South Dakota's public meeting rules by adding definitions for "public comment" (information presented by the public through various methods) and updating the definition of "official meeting" to explicitly include teleconference meetings conducted by audio, video, or electronic means. The bill also requires that public bodies cite a specific law when closing a meeting to the public, rather than closing meetings without justification.

provide oversight regarding the exercise of gubernatorial emergency powers.

This bill adds new oversight requirements to the Governor's emergency powers by requiring legislative review of decisions made during declared emergencies. The specific oversight mechanisms and limitations on the Governor's authority are detailed in the amended statute, though the excerpt provided doesn't show the complete final language of those new restrictions.

require the posting of laws regarding hospital, nursing facility, and assisted living center visitation.

This bill requires South Dakota's Department of Health to post all state laws, rules, and federal laws about visiting patients in hospitals and nursing facilities on its website. Currently, there is no requirement for the state to compile and publicly display these visitation policies in one place. The change makes it easier for patients, families, and facility staff to find the official visitation rules that apply to these healthcare settings.

prohibit lobbying by state officials and employees.

South Dakota state officials and employees are now prohibited from working as lobbyists to influence legislation on behalf of private interests, agencies, or businesses. The bill updates the state's lobbying registration requirements to enforce this ban by preventing anyone—including government workers—from being hired as a lobbyist and registered in the state's directory of registered lobbyists.

require an annual report from associations that represent boards of school districts.

School board associations in South Dakota must now submit an annual report to the Legislature's government operations committee detailing what dues members pay, what services they provide for those dues, any additional paid services, and their involvement in administering insurance pools. The report must also disclose all compensation the association or its employees receive for managing insurance programs. This creates new transparency requirements so lawmakers can see how school boards' membership dues are being used.

authorize parental review of instructional and curricular materials.

HB1310 requires South Dakota school districts to post all instructional materials, curriculum, and activity descriptions on their websites so parents can review what their children are being taught. The bill defines "learning materials" broadly to include textbooks, videos, websites, and materials created by teachers, as well as "activities" like civics projects, guest speakers, and field trips. This gives parents greater transparency and access to information about their children's education.

Addressing the Governor's unacceptable actions in matters related to the appraiser certification program.

This is a House Resolution expressing the legislature's disapproval of Governor Kristi Noem's actions regarding the state appraiser certification program, specifically related to her daughter's failed applications for appraiser licensure. The resolution does not change any existing state law, but rather documents concerns about whether the Governor and her appointed officials upheld ethical standards in administering the certification program.

revise the annual report on medical cannabis by the Department of Health to the Legislature.

South Dakota's Department of Health will now include more detailed information in its annual medical cannabis report to the Legislature, adding requirements to report patient demographics, practitioner information, licensing violations, and the impact on public safety and health services. The bill expands the current reporting requirements beyond just counting applications and approvals to give lawmakers a fuller picture of how the medical cannabis program is operating. The department is still prohibited from including identifying information about individual patients, caregivers, or doctors in these reports.

create the Office of Ombudsman for State Employees.

South Dakota would create a new Office of Ombudsman for State Employees to investigate complaints from state workers about illegal actions or improper decisions by executive branch agencies. The ombudsman, appointed by the Legislative Research Council, would review complaints to determine whether they're valid and worth investigating, while steering employees toward other available remedies when appropriate. This is a new office and function in state government, with no existing law being changed—only added.

require state agencies to provide certain information for initiated measure or constitutional amendment fiscal notes.

SB 187 requires state agencies to provide detailed financial information when preparing fiscal notes for initiated measures and constitutional amendments proposed by voters. This ensures that the public and lawmakers have complete cost estimates before voting on ballot measures. The bill amends the law governing how fiscal notes are prepared to make them more comprehensive and informative.

publish voter-approved initiated constitutional amendments and initiated measures in the session laws.

SB2 requires voter-approved constitutional amendments and ballot measures initiated by citizens to be published in South Dakota's official session laws, making them part of the permanent legislative record alongside laws passed by the Legislature. This ensures that measures approved directly by voters receive the same official documentation and public accessibility as legislatively-passed laws.

require that taxpayer funded pool arrangements providing workers' compensation coverage demonstrate financial stability, reliable management, and fair pricing.

This bill strengthens oversight of taxpayer-funded worker's compensation pools by requiring them to file annual financial audits with the Department of Legislative Audit within three months (shortened from twelve months) and making those audits publicly available online. It also requires these pools to submit annual financial plans to the state and pool members detailing their coverage options, rate-setting methods, and cash reserves by September first each year.

revise certain provisions regarding records that are not open to inspection and copying and deliberations in an executive or closed meeting.

HB 1087 clarifies which government records in South Dakota cannot be publicly inspected or copied, including student records, medical records, trade secrets from research institutions, attorney work product, and law enforcement investigation files. The bill refines the existing exemptions to the state's public records law by specifying what types of sensitive information remain confidential and protected from public disclosure.

require legislative approval for the acquisition, sale, or exchange of real property by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

# HB 1235 Summary The Department of Game, Fish and Parks will need to get approval from the legislature before it can buy, sell, or trade any real property. This change gives lawmakers direct oversight over how the department manages its land and building assets instead of allowing the department to make these decisions on its own.

require law enforcement to report certain seizures of property.

HB1328 requires law enforcement agencies in South Dakota to report when they seize property from people, creating a new accountability mechanism for asset forfeitures. The bill aims to increase transparency around seizures by mandating these reports be filed, though the specific details about reporting timelines and which agency receives the reports would be in the full text. This change applies to law enforcement seizures that weren't previously subject to mandatory reporting requirements.

repeal certain reporting requirements to the Executive Board of the Legislative Research Council.

This bill reduces reporting requirements for state departments and licensing boards by removing the requirement that they send exam pass-rate data to the Legislative Research Council's Executive Board. Departments will still report this information annually to the Board of Regents and Department of Labor and Regulation, and to the Board of Technical Education for technical college graduates, but the Legislative Research Council will no longer receive these reports.

revise provisions regarding the medical marijuana oversight committee.

SB 11 requires South Dakota's medical marijuana oversight committee to meet at least twice per year to evaluate and recommend improvements to the Legislature and state department regarding patient access, dispensary and cultivation facility effectiveness, testing facility adequacy, and regulatory safeguards. The bill expands the committee's review responsibilities to include specific areas like dispensary pricing, complaints, security issues, educational services, and potential regulatory changes related to security, labeling, employment, and medical complications.

authorize the State-Tribal Relations Committee to issue subpoenas.

This bill gives the State-Tribal Relations Committee the power to subpoena witnesses and documents when studying relationships between South Dakota and tribal governments, but only after the Legislative Research Council's Executive Board approves each subpoena. The committee can enforce subpoenas through the court system if someone refuses to comply, but cannot use this power to gather evidence for criminal cases or to punish specific individuals.

require taxing districts to hold a public hearing when increasing property tax revenues relative to the previous year.

Property tax districts in South Dakota would be required to hold a public hearing whenever they propose to increase the total property tax revenue they collect compared to the previous year. This gives taxpayers a chance to publicly comment on and challenge tax increases before districts can raise their levies.

revise the gross receipts tax on certain food.

Despite its title referencing a food tax, SB117 actually eliminates a requirement for South Dakota's Board of Regents to submit an annual report to the Governor and legislature describing their efforts to promote intellectual diversity and free exchange of ideas on college campuses. The bill keeps the definitions of "expressive activity" and "intellectual diversity" in state law but removes the accountability mechanism that required institutions to document what they're doing to protect these principles.

address transparency in prescription drug pricing.

SB 163 updates South Dakota's prescription drug pricing transparency law by clarifying which organizations must follow the transparency rules—including nonprofits, health insurers, employers, and labor unions that provide health coverage to state residents. The bill also refines definitions of key terms like "generic drug" and "labeler" to ensure the law applies consistently across the state's health coverage system.

codify a joint committee for legislative redistricting.

This bill creates a permanent joint committee that will meet every ten years (starting in 2031) to help redraw state legislative district lines after the census. The committee will have 15 legislators—eight from one chamber and seven from the other, with the larger group alternating between the House and Senate each cycle—and will be co-chaired by one House and one Senate member with staff support from the Legislative Research Council.

revise provisions related to medical cannabis data maintained by the Department of Health.

This bill clarifies that personal information submitted by medical cannabis patients, caregivers, and businesses—including names and medical details—is confidential and cannot be shared with the public under South Dakota's open records law. The bill also narrows the reasons the Department of Health can disclose this confidential data, limiting sharing to only verifying registration cards, submitting required reports, reporting crimes to law enforcement, and notifying medical boards of violations.

require certain language for the oath or affirmation for civil office.

This bill requires people taking civil office in South Dakota to use oath or affirmation language that closely matches the specific wording in the state constitution for their particular office, rather than using generic language. The bill also updates pronouns and references from "his" to "the person" or "his the person's" to be more inclusive. These changes ensure consistency between the oath taken and the constitutional requirements for each office.

provide for the security and privacy of certain personally identifiable information for judicial officers and to declare an emergency.

This bill protects the personal contact information of circuit court judges and state Supreme Court justices by keeping their home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses private in financial disclosure forms, though their county of residence remains public. The bill also extends similar privacy protections to voter registration records for these judicial officers. These changes are declared an emergency, meaning they take effect immediately rather than waiting until the standard law implementation date.

direct the Department of Labor and Regulation to compile and report statistics related to poverty and workforce development on tribal lands.

HB1151 requires South Dakota's Department of Labor and Regulation to collect and report statistics about poverty rates and workforce development programs specifically on tribal lands. This new reporting requirement will provide data to help track economic conditions and job training effectiveness in Native American communities across the state.

clarify the Corrections Commission's ability to obtain criminal justice information.

This bill clarifies that the state Corrections Commission can request criminal justice information from state and local law enforcement agencies in two ways: either data that agencies already collect and can easily report, or any other information the commission deems necessary to study South Dakota's criminal justice system. The bill also protects agencies by stating the commission cannot require them to create or maintain new data collection systems just to fulfill requests.

revise the deadlines for state agencies to submit annual budget requests to the Legislative Research Council.

This bill moves up the deadline for state agencies to submit their annual budget requests to the Legislative Research Council by two months—from October 15th to August 15th. It also requires the Bureau of Finance and Management to send those budget requests to the Legislative Research Council by August 30th instead of November 1st, giving lawmakers more time to review agency spending plans before the budget process begins.

require an annual meeting with the congressional delegation.

This bill expands an existing requirement for the governor to meet annually with the U.S. Forest Service by adding a new requirement to also meet with South Dakota's congressional delegation and state legislators to discuss federal and state issues affecting residents. The new meeting with Congress and state lawmakers must take place right after the governor's State of the State address and can be held in person or electronically.

revise certain provisions regarding the expenditure of moneys allotted to the state by the United States of America.

This bill requires the Governor to get approval from a special legislative committee before spending federal money or grants that exceed amounts already approved in the state budget. The change clarifies that all federal funds—whether received under existing authority or through new grants—must go through this committee review process before the state can use them.

make various clarifying changes to the state budgeting process.

HB1336 clarifies and reorganizes the definitions used in South Dakota's state budgeting process, such as what counts as an "appropriation," "budget," and "budget unit." The bill updates the language of these definitions to make the budgeting law clearer and more precise, though it doesn't change how the actual budgeting process works.

Urging the executive branch to refrain from seeking or promoting specific legislative outcomes.

This concurrent resolution urges the Governor and executive branch officials to avoid actively seeking or promoting specific legislative outcomes during the legislative session. The resolution expresses the House's view that the executive branch should refrain from lobbying for particular bills or policy positions, leaving those decisions to the legislature.

revise provisions related to the confidential list of medical cannabis cardholders maintained by the Department of Health.

South Dakota's Department of Health maintains a confidential list of medical cannabis cardholders, and this bill expands what information must be included on that list—adding the names and contact details of patients' doctors and, for patients under 18, their parents or legal guardians. The bill also reinforces that this list cannot be combined with other databases or used for any purpose outside the medical cannabis program.

modify when a motion for expungement of an arrest record may be made and to declare an emergency.

SB 83 allows people to request that their arrest records be erased immediately after the prosecutor formally dismisses their case, rather than waiting one year as currently required. The bill keeps the one-year waiting period for arrests where no charges were filed, and maintains the existing rule allowing immediate expungement after acquittal.

Honoring Clint Johnson as the recipient of the 2021 Legend of ProRodeo award and for his outstanding representation of South Dakota on the national stage.

This resolution honors Clint Johnson for receiving the 2021 Legend of ProRodeo award and for representing South Dakota at the national level. The bill makes minor technical changes to state laws related to motorized scooters and transportation recordkeeping, but these are procedural adjustments that don't substantially alter how those regulations work.

Honoring and Commending Stevi Fallis for earning her 1,000th point and the Red Cloud High School girls basketball team for their exceptional athleticism throughout the 2021-2022 basketball season.

SC825 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Stevi Fallis for scoring her 1,000th basketball point and commending the Red Cloud High School girls basketball team for their 2021-2022 season. This bill makes no changes to state law—it is purely a recognition of athletic achievement by the South Dakota Senate.

require a forensic audit of election results after each presidential general election.

South Dakota would be required to conduct a forensic audit of presidential general election results every four years, with the audit completed by June 1 of the following year. The State Board of Elections can hire a third-party auditor with election forensic expertise to perform this work. The bill also adds forensic audits to the list of election procedures that the State Board of Elections can write rules about.

require legislative approval for the acquisition, construction, or expansion of certain campgrounds.

SB 193 requires the South Dakota Legislature to approve any new acquisition, construction, or expansion of state-owned campgrounds before they can proceed. This change gives lawmakers a say in how the state's campground resources are developed and funded, rather than allowing agencies to make these decisions on their own.

enact the uniform electronic recordation of custodial interrogations act.

SB 207 requires law enforcement to electronically record custodial interrogations of suspects, creating a permanent audio or video record of police questioning. This change updates South Dakota law to follow the Uniform Electronic Recordation of Custodial Interrogations Act, a model law adopted by other states to improve accuracy and accountability in criminal investigations.

update certain provisions related to the licensure of optometrists.

This bill updates South Dakota's optometry licensing board from four members to five members, with four required to be licensed optometrists who have practiced in the state for at least five years and one required to be a public representative with no financial ties to optometry. The change adds a public member to the board and clarifies the definition of "board" in the optometry licensing chapter. These updates modernize the board's composition to include consumer representation while maintaining professional expertise requirements.

revise a notice requirement for a hearing on the comprehensive plan in a joint jurisdictional area.

This bill removes the requirement that county commissioners must mail notice of comprehensive plan hearings to property owners in a joint city-county planning area. Cities and counties will still need to publish notice in a legal newspaper at least ten days before the hearing, but the mailing requirement is eliminated.

provide for the appointment of members of the Senate and House of Representatives to the South Dakota Capitol Complex Restoration and Beautification Commission.

This bill expands the Capitol Complex Restoration and Beautification Commission by adding four legislative members—two state senators and two state representatives—who will be appointed by their respective chamber leaders for two-year terms. The new members must come from different political parties to ensure balanced representation. The commission previously had only eight members (the Pierre mayor and seven governor-appointed members), and now will have twelve.

require sellers of residential real property to disclose property taxes to buyers.

When selling a house in South Dakota, sellers must now tell buyers how much property tax is owed on the property before the buyer makes an offer to purchase it. This new requirement applies to residential real estate sales that already require other disclosures under state law.

limit the manner in which legislation may be introduced.

This bill restricts which committees can introduce legislation by limiting committee bill introductions to standing committees, interim committees of the Legislative Research Council, and five specific interim committees (Rules Review, Government Operations and Audit, Retirement Laws, Joint Bonding Review, and State-Tribal Relations), plus bills requested by the Governor or Supreme Court. The change removes language that previously allowed other committees to introduce bills, while still allowing individual legislators to introduce bills on their own. Committee chairmen can now pre-file these bills without a full committee vote.

establish the Commission on Truth and Reconciliation.

South Dakota establishes a new Commission on Truth and Reconciliation made up of seven governor-appointed members to review how past and present federal and state policies have affected the state's nine federally recognized tribes. The commission will gather testimony from affected Native Americans, document the impacts of government policies, and recommend steps toward healing and improved tribal-state relations before dissolving after submitting its final report to the Governor and Legislature.

clarify signature requirements on petitions regarding the change of form of government in municipalities.

HB 1275 clarifies the signature requirements that citizens must meet when submitting petitions to change how a South Dakota municipality is governed (such as switching from a mayor-council to a city manager system). The bill updates the technical rules for these petitions to make the signature rules clearer and more specific.

protect the integrity and accuracy of voter registration information.

County auditors must now submit annual reports to the Secretary of State and State Board of Elections detailing how many voters were removed from registration lists and why (due to inactivity, death, felony conviction, mental incompetence, or relocation), with these reports made available to the public. The bill also clarifies that when voters update their registration due to a name change or move, their previous party affiliation carries over unless they explicitly choose a different one, while first-time voters who don't specify a party are automatically registered as independent.

clarify the requirements for the execution of a living will declaration.

SB164 clarifies the technical requirements for South Dakota living will declarations by requiring that declarations either be witnessed by two adults or notarized by a public notary (changing "may" to "must"). The bill also clarifies that if someone's living will doesn't specify their wishes about artificial nutrition and hydration, state law will decide what happens rather than leaving it unclear.

revise provisions related to the revocation of a medical cannabis registry identification card.

This bill clarifies the process for revoking a medical cannabis registry identification card by ensuring the Department of Health gives written notice explaining the reason for denial or revocation to either the patient or their designated caregiver. It also formally establishes that revocation decisions are final departmental decisions that can be challenged in court through judicial review.

Honoring Angela Ehlers for being the 2021 recipient of the Spirit of Dakota award.

SC821 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Angela Ehlers as the 2021 recipient of the Spirit of Dakota award. The bill makes minor technical amendments to state law sections related to motorized foot scooters and transportation recordkeeping, though these appear to be unrelated procedural updates included in the legislative session.

revise rulemaking authority related to medical cannabis.

This bill removes an outdated October 29, 2021 deadline that required the state Department of Health to create medical cannabis rules by that date, allowing the department to continue developing and updating those rules going forward. The department must still create rules covering how the public can petition to add medical conditions, application requirements for cannabis businesses, and a scoring system to evaluate competing applicants when there are more applications than allowed.

revise certain provisions relating to the South Dakota Retirement System.

SB 56 updates the definitions and technical rules used to calculate retirement benefits and funding levels for the South Dakota Retirement System. The bill clarifies how the system's assets are valued and determines the contribution rates that employers and employees must pay into the retirement fund. These changes ensure the retirement system's financial calculations remain accurate and sustainable.

repeal obsolete lease requirements for the Black Hills Playhouse.

This bill removes outdated state laws that governed the Black Hills Playhouse's lease of land in Custer State Park, including requirements to negotiate a lease agreement, provisions that expired in 2019, and rules about building repairs and maintenance spending. These provisions are no longer in effect or are obsolete, so the bill simply cleans up the state's legal code by deleting them.

protect the integrity of reemployment assistance.

This bill requires South Dakota's Department of Labor and Regulation to conduct monthly checks comparing unemployment benefit recipients against new hire records and incarcerated individuals to verify that only eligible people receive reemployment assistance payments. The department can also enter into agreements with other state agencies to share information needed for these eligibility checks. This adds a new integrity verification process to the state's unemployment insurance system.

create the Commission on Indian Affairs.

South Dakota creates a new Commission on Indian Affairs to improve state services for American Indians and strengthen communication between the state and the nine federally recognized tribes in South Dakota. The commission will have ten voting members—one from the state's Department of Tribal Relations and one representative from each of the nine tribes, selected by each tribe's own governing body—plus an optional non-voting member from an urban Indian health program.

require training on Native American law be provided to legislators and legislative staff.

This bill requires the Legislative Research Council to provide two hours of training on Native American law to all new legislative staff members. The bill also makes this training material available to current lawmakers, though it doesn't mandate they take it.

establish provisions for replacing certain names of geographic places that use offensive words or phrases.

South Dakota will replace all geographic place names containing the offensive terms "squaw" or "scalp" with new names that don't rely on harmful stereotypes. The bill specifically renames five locations in Gregory County (including North Scalp Creek and Scalp Butte) and requires the state to update all maps and government records to reflect these changes. Going forward, no new geographic features in South Dakota can use either of these terms in their names.

make an appropriation to the Office of Attorney General to temporarily fund a position within the Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, and to declare an emergency.

HB 1194 provides temporary funding to the Attorney General's Office to pay for a staff position dedicated to working on issues related to missing and murdered Indigenous persons in South Dakota. The bill declares this funding an emergency matter, allowing it to take effect immediately rather than waiting for the standard implementation date.

remove irreconcilable differences as a cause for divorce.

HB 1199 removes "irreconcilable differences" as a legal reason someone can use to get a divorce in South Dakota. This means spouses seeking a divorce would no longer be able to cite simply growing apart or incompatibility as grounds, and would need to rely on other specified reasons under state law instead.

prohibit certain activities related to a person's COVID-19 vaccination status and provide a penalty therefor.

South Dakota prohibits the state, local governments, and private employers from issuing vaccine passports, sharing COVID-19 vaccination records, or requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for employment, entry to businesses, or participation in events. Violations result in a Class 1 misdemeanor and a $10,000 civil fine per violation. The law does not prevent COVID-19 screening protocols designed to protect public health.

prohibit the private funding of National Guard and State Guard active-duty missions.

This bill prohibits the South Dakota National Guard and State Guard from accepting private donations to fund their active-duty missions. Previously, state law apparently allowed these military units to rely on private funding for operations, but this bill eliminates that practice and requires all active-duty mission costs to come from public funds instead.

protect an individual's conscience from entities requiring the COVID-19 vaccine.

This bill makes COVID-19 vaccination records strictly confidential and prohibits anyone from sharing or requesting an individual's vaccination status without their written consent, with limited exceptions for disease control investigations and protecting named individuals' health. Violations—such as a doctor's office or employer disclosing someone's vaccine status without permission—would be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also allows the Department of Health to use vaccination data only for anonymous statistics or disease prevention purposes.

revise the authorization for a tribal flag display in the rotunda of the capitol building.

This bill changes the tribal flag display rule in the state capitol rotunda from discretionary to mandatory—the nine federally recognized tribes' flags **must** now be displayed there instead of just being allowed to be displayed. The bill keeps the requirement that the specific location be determined by the commission with agreement from each tribal government, and it encourages (but doesn't require) the Legislature to hold public ceremonies honoring the flags during legislative sessions.

provide additional time for camping permit acquisition by residents.

This bill changes state law to require—instead of merely allow—the Game, Fish and Parks Commission to adopt rules for managing South Dakota's state park system, including issuing camping permits and collecting fees. The shift from "may" to "must" and "shall" makes these rule-making responsibilities mandatory rather than optional for the commission.

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 calling for a national convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose amendments that would limit federal spending and power, and restrict how many terms federal officials and members of Congress can serve. This resolution asks other states to join South Dakota in requesting this constitutional convention, which would be only the second time in American history that such a convention has been called. The resolution itself doesn't change South Dakota state law, but rather asks the federal government to consider major constitutional changes through this convention process.

clarify provisions related to filing a petition to refer an ordinance or resolution.

This bill clarifies the rules for county residents who want to challenge an ordinance or resolution through a petition process. It specifies that petitions must be filed with the county auditor within 20 days after the ordinance or resolution is published in the official county newspaper, and that filing such a petition forces the measure to go to a public vote for approval or rejection.

provide public access to abandoned cemeteries.

South Dakota residents now have a legal right to visit and maintain abandoned cemeteries on private land, as long as the land owner agrees and the access is reasonable. The cemetery must have documented burials and haven't been used or maintained for at least five years to qualify as "abandoned." County sheriffs will enforce this new right to visit ancestral burial grounds.

establish a process for the abandonment of certain pipelines.

SB204 creates a formal process for abandoning oil, gas, and carbon dioxide pipelines in South Dakota by defining a pipeline as "abandoned" if it hasn't transported materials for five consecutive years and requiring pipeline owners to notify affected landowners within 30 days of abandonment. The notification must include the pipeline owner's contact information, easement location, abandonment date, and inform landowners of their right to reclaim full use of their property once the pipeline is abandoned.

revise the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.

SB208 updates South Dakota's unclaimed property law to align with the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, which governs how the state handles money and assets that owners have abandoned or lost track of. The bill makes changes to the rules about when property is considered unclaimed, how long businesses must hold it before turning it over to the state, and what the state does with these abandoned funds. These updates modernize the law to match standards adopted by other states and improve how unclaimed property is managed and returned to rightful owners.

honoring and commending Dow Rummel Village for its ninety-four percent vaccination rate among staff members.

This bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors Dow Rummel Village for achieving a 94% vaccination rate among its staff members—it does not change any state law. The resolution simply commends the organization for its vaccination efforts and does not create, modify, or repeal any legal requirements or regulations.

Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota to increase the maximum number of members of the South Dakota Legislature.

SJR 503 asks South Dakota voters to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow the state legislature to have more members than it currently does. The bill itself doesn't change the legislature's size directly—it just puts the question to voters at the next general election to decide whether to increase the maximum number of lawmakers allowed under the state constitution.

revise certain provisions regarding the investments authorized for state public funds.

HB 1002 updates the types of investments that South Dakota state public funds are allowed to make by reorganizing and clarifying the list of approved securities—including direct U.S. government obligations, corporate bonds with high credit ratings, bank deposits, and other traditional investments. The bill also clarifies which state trust funds (like education and health care trust funds) are covered by these investment rules. This is primarily a technical cleanup of the investment code to ensure the State Investment Council has clear guidance on how to manage public money.

codify an advisory council for the appraiser certification program.

South Dakota will create an official advisory committee for the state's appraiser certification program, with ten members including appraisers, banking representatives, and real estate officials who will advise the Department of Labor and Regulation. Committee members will serve three-year terms, meet quarterly in open meetings, and receive travel expenses and per diem payments for their service.

revise provisions regarding court transcript costs.

South Dakota courts currently charge $3 per page for original transcripts and 40 cents per page for copies, but this bill allows the state Supreme Court to adopt new pricing rates for both original and copy transcripts, effective January 1, 2023. The bill gives the Supreme Court authority to set transcript fees rather than keeping them fixed in state law. Indigent defendants and their lawyers can still request free transcripts paid by the county if the court approves.

expand the eligibility for a small estate probate.

This bill increases the dollar limit for small estate probate from $50,000 to $100,000, making it easier for families to transfer a deceased person's property without going through formal probate court proceedings. Someone can now use a simple affidavit to collect money or property owed to an estate as long as the total estate value (minus debts) doesn't exceed $100,000 instead of the previous $50,000 cap.

establish rights regarding the disposition of a person's remains.

This bill establishes a clear legal process allowing adults to pre-plan their funeral arrangements and remains disposition through preneed contracts, and specifies who has the right to make these decisions if someone dies without leaving instructions. The law protects these prearranged plans from being changed or canceled unless the person who made them authorized someone else to do so, or unless there isn't enough money set aside to pay for them. This creates a new legal framework in South Dakota to ensure people's wishes about their funeral and burial are respected and followed after death.

revise requirements for sales of catalytic converters to scrap metal businesses.

HB 1174 requires scrap metal businesses to keep detailed records of catalytic converter sales and establishes penalties for failing to do so, treating catalytic converters as "nonferrous metal property" subject to the same recordkeeping rules as other valuable metals like copper and aluminum. The bill clarifies that these recordkeeping requirements apply to individual sellers but not to businesses with established accounts at scrap metal facilities. This is intended to help law enforcement track catalytic converter thefts, which have become a common crime.

make an appropriation to provide contingency funds for unanticipated costs related to the coronavirus pandemic and to declare an emergency.

This bill appropriates $1 from the state general fund for unspecified purposes described as "enhancing the greatness of South Dakota." The bill declares an emergency to make it effective immediately upon passage, and any unused funds must be returned to the general fund by June 30, 2026.

create a task force on jail planning, to make an appropriation of general contingency funds therefor, and to declare an emergency.

HB 1238 creates a new task force to plan for future jail facilities in South Dakota. The bill appropriates general contingency funds to support the task force's work and declares an emergency so the task force can begin immediately.

revise provisions related to name changes when obtaining a marriage license.

When getting married in South Dakota, couples can use their marriage license to legally change their surname, but this bill clarifies the limits on what name changes are allowed—couples can only adopt their spouse's last name, hyphenate both last names, or make other limited changes, but cannot change their first or middle names (except moving a middle name to become part of their new surname). The bill updates the language in the law to make these restrictions clearer and more consistent throughout the statute.

Urging the Associated School Boards of South Dakota to immediately discontinue any affiliation with or participation in the National School Boards Association.

This is a resolution urging the Associated School Boards of South Dakota to immediately stop working with or being a member of the National School Boards Association. It does not change state law itself, but instead expresses the legislature's position that the state's school board organization should sever its ties with the national organization.

restrict the distribution of deceptive images or recordings with the intent to influence the outcome of an election.

South Dakota would create a new law making it illegal to distribute digitally manipulated images or videos of political candidates within 90 days before an election if done to damage their reputation or deceive voters, with exceptions for satire and parody. The restriction applies only to "materially deceptive media"—manipulated content realistic enough to fool a reasonable person into believing it shows the candidate's actual appearance or speech, but fundamentally different from the original. Anyone who knowingly or recklessly distributes such material could face legal penalties.

require closure of litigation over the recreational use of nonmeandered waters.

SB 126 ends ongoing court cases about whether the public can recreate on non-meandered waters (bodies of water that don't naturally flow) that sit on private property. The bill closes litigation over this issue by having the Legislature declare that it has already balanced public recreational rights with private property owners' rights through earlier legislation, preventing further legal battles on the matter.

require the Board of Regents to provide an annual presentation to the special committee.

South Dakota's six Board of Regents universities will now receive state funding based on a new formula instead of previous methods. The formula splits funding so that 25% goes equally to all six universities for basic operations, while the remaining 75% is distributed based on how many students each university enrolls and the types of programs they offer (weighted by program value). A full-time student for funding purposes is defined as someone taking 30 credit hours of instruction.

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

South Dakota is setting aside $1.5 million from its general fund to pay for major court cases and legal expenses the state is facing. The money goes into a special "extraordinary litigation fund" that the Bureau of Administration can use to cover eligible legal costs, and the bill declares this an emergency so it takes effect immediately.

revise the approval process for state employee household moving allowances.

This bill shifts approval authority for state employee moving allowances from the Board of Finance to the State Auditor. Employees who are transferred between South Dakota state offices can still receive reimbursement for moving expenses, but they now need the State Auditor's approval instead of the Board of Finance's approval before the allowance is authorized.

clarify certain provisions of the rural access infrastructure improvements grant program.

HB1070 clarifies how South Dakota counties receive and use grants from the rural access infrastructure improvements program, which provides funding to repair and replace small structures on township and county roads. The bill specifies that counties must establish dedicated funds for these grants and can only spend the money on engineering, planning, and construction work related to fixing these road structures. The amendments also replace the term "funds" with "moneys" throughout the statute for consistency.

allow succession to real property by an affidavit.

Starting 60 days after someone's death, their heirs can transfer real property worth $50,000 or less by filing a simple affidavit with the county register of deeds, instead of going through formal probate court proceedings. The affidavit must be signed by all heirs and include a copy of the death certificate, and it counts as proof of the facts stated in it. This creates a faster, cheaper way for families to settle small estates without needing a lawyer or court involvement.

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

HB1340 is the state budget bill that funds the day-to-day operations of South Dakota's legislature, courts, executive branch agencies, public schools, and state institutions for the fiscal year. The bill appropriates state money to cover ordinary expenses and interest payments on the state's public debt across all three branches of government.

provide for the remote witnessing of certain legal instruments.

South Dakota will now allow certain legal documents—including wills, powers of attorney, and cremation authorizations—to be witnessed remotely using video technology instead of requiring witnesses to be physically present. The witnesses and the person signing the document must all be able to see and hear each other in real-time through the video call, and the law includes accommodations for people with vision, hearing, or speech impairments. This change makes it easier for people to execute these important legal documents without gathering in person.

revise certain provisions regarding voter registration records.

This bill clarifies how South Dakota removes ineligible voters from registration lists by requiring the county auditor to cross-check voter records against death records from the Department of Health and felony conviction records from the court system. The bill also allows the State Board of Elections to create rules for how these record-matching checks should be conducted. This strengthens the process for keeping voter rolls accurate by automatically removing deceased people and those serving felony sentences.

require the POW/MIA flag be displayed in the Senate and House of Representative chambers.

SB 197 requires that the POW/MIA flag be displayed in both the South Dakota Senate and House of Representatives chambers. This amends state law to ensure that the flag honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action is prominently featured in the legislative chambers.