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exempt members of Indian tribes in South Dakota from hunting and fishing license fees.

Members of Indian tribes in South Dakota will no longer have to pay hunting and fishing license fees. This exempts tribal members from costs that other South Dakota residents currently must pay when they obtain hunting or fishing licenses.

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.

exempt members of Indian tribes from admission fees, camping permit fees, and park service fees of state parks.

# HB 1142 Summary Members of federally recognized Indian tribes will no longer have to pay admission fees, camping permits, or other park service fees when using South Dakota state parks. This exemption removes a financial barrier for tribal members accessing the state's park system.

provide a penalty for businesses that do not accept tribal identification cards as a valid form of identification.

This bill strengthens South Dakota's requirement that businesses accept tribal identification cards by adding a civil penalty provision for those who refuse to accept them. Tribal IDs are already recognized as valid identification for financial transactions and age verification, but this bill gives the Secretary of the Department of Tribal Relations authority to fine businesses that don't comply with this requirement.

partially reallocate federal payments from national forests.

This bill redirects 10% of the federal forest payments that South Dakota receives from the Black Hills and Custer National Forests away from local counties and toward two new programs: a Native American achievement schools grant program and a tribal government infrastructure improvement fund. Previously, all of these federal payments went to the five affected counties (Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Custer, and Fall River for Black Hills; Harding County for Custer National Forest) for roads and schools, but now those counties will receive 90% while the remaining 10% supports Native American education and tribal infrastructure projects.

make an appropriation to the Department of Tribal Relations to support Indian horse racing relays and to declare an emergency.

HB 1193 provides state funding to the Department of Tribal Relations to support Indian horse racing relay events. The bill declares an emergency, which allows it to take effect immediately rather than waiting for the standard delayed implementation date.

Supporting the initiatives of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate.

This concurrent resolution expresses the South Dakota Legislature's support for three initiatives of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribe: Native language revitalization programs, federal funding for new Bureau of Indian Education schools, and federal green energy programs for tribal nations. The resolution does not change any existing state law but rather serves as a formal statement of legislative backing for these tribal priorities aimed at improving education, employment, and economic opportunity on the reservation.

In support of investigating and opening an official inquiry into the Medals of Honor given to United States soldiers for the involvement and participation of the soldiers in the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890.

HR7001 is a resolution calling for an official investigation into Medals of Honor that were awarded to U.S. soldiers for their involvement in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre. The resolution does not change state law itself, but rather expresses the House's support for examining whether these military decorations should be reviewed or rescinded based on the historical circumstances of the event.

make an appropriation for matching funds to enhance research in manufacturing processes having lunar application and planetary use in tribal housing development and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota will provide matching funds to support research into advanced manufacturing processes that could be used in tribal housing development, with potential applications to lunar and planetary construction. The bill declares this funding an emergency appropriation, meaning it takes effect immediately rather than waiting for the standard implementation timeline. This creates new state funding to help tribes develop innovative housing solutions using cutting-edge manufacturing technology.

prohibit school districts from using certain mascots and team names that are derogatory toward Native American peoples or culture.

HB1183 prohibits South Dakota school districts from using mascots and team names that are derogatory or disrespectful toward Native American peoples and their cultures. School districts currently using such mascots would need to change them to comply with the new rule. This change affects how public schools represent themselves athletically and in their branding.

authorize enrolled tribal members to attend certain institutions of higher education without payment of tuition costs.

HB 1186 allows enrolled members of Indian tribes to attend South Dakota public universities and technical schools without paying tuition. This creates a tuition-free pathway for tribal members who meet other admission requirements, while the state institutions would still receive their regular funding through the appropriations process.

Urging the federal government to fulfill treaty obligations by fully funding the Oglala and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Departments of Public Safety for the public safety crisis on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Sioux Reservations.

This resolution urges the federal government to fully fund the police departments serving the Oglala Sioux Tribe on Pine Ridge Reservation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe on Rosebud Reservation, arguing that the federal government has a treaty obligation to do so. The resolution does not change South Dakota state law itself; instead, it expresses the state legislature's position that inadequate federal funding is creating a public safety crisis on these reservations.

Urging support for the people of Ukraine.

SR 702 is a resolution expressing South Dakota's support for the people of Ukraine in response to events occurring in early 2022. This is not a law that changes state regulations or procedures—it is a symbolic statement of the Senate's position on an international matter.

permit the use of tribal identification cards when registering to vote.

Tribal identification cards can now be used as acceptable forms of identification when people register to vote in South Dakota. This expands the list of valid ID options for voter registration beyond previously accepted documents.

incorporate the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings in the social studies curriculum.

South Dakota schools must now incorporate the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings—which focus on the nine federally recognized tribes in the state—into their social studies curriculum for all elementary and secondary students. The State Board of Education Standards must consult with the South Dakota Indian education advisory council when developing these curriculum rules. This changes existing law by making the inclusion of Native American tribal history and perspectives a requirement rather than an optional consideration.

establish certain provisions related to law enforcement.

This bill prohibits law enforcement officers and their training programs from using chokeholds and similar restraints that cut off breathing or blood circulation. It requires all police officers to receive training on tribal sovereignty, tribal history, and tribal culture, and creates a public database listing officers whose certifications have been suspended or revoked, including details about why.

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.

reallocate federal payments from national forests.

This bill redirects federal payments that South Dakota receives from two national forests—the Black Hills National Forest and the Custer National Forest—away from county roads and schools and toward new state grant programs instead. Money from the Black Hills National Forest now goes to a Native American achievement schools grant program, while Custer National Forest payments go to a local infrastructure improvement fund reserved for tribal governments. Instead of directly benefiting the five counties surrounding Black Hills National Forest and Harding County, these federal forest revenues will now support statewide programs focused on Native American education and tribal infrastructure.

make an appropriation for the erection of the South Dakota Sioux Code Talker Memorial and to declare an emergency.

This bill appropriates state funding to build a memorial honoring South Dakota Sioux Code Talkers, Native Americans who used their native language as an unbreakable military code during World War II. The bill declares the project an emergency, which typically allows faster approval and implementation. No existing law is changed; this bill simply provides the money needed to construct the memorial.