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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.

modify certain provisions related to elections for sparse school districts.

This bill makes two changes to school district election rules. First, it requires school boards to maintain at least as many polling places for school elections as the county designates for general elections, preventing schools from reducing voting locations. Second, it clarifies that decisions on school capital projects must be approved by 60% of voters if a referendum is triggered.

permit certain municipalities to elect aldermen at large.

Small towns in South Dakota with fewer than 2,000 residents can now choose to elect their city council members at-large (citywide) instead of by individual wards, if voters approve the change by majority vote. Towns can later switch back to the ward system using the same voting process, subject to a waiting period. This gives smaller municipalities flexibility in how they structure their local elections.

provide for the referral of certain resolutions adopted by the board of a school district.

School district voters can now force a public vote on certain school board resolutions by filing a petition signed by five percent of voters who participated in the last general election, as long as the resolution involves health or safety requirements or limitations for students or employees. The petition must be filed within 60 days of the board's adoption of the resolution and include the full text and dates, and if valid, the school district must hold a referral vote at the next regular school election with advance notice published in the local newspaper.

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 for an electronic system to update voter registration information.

South Dakota will create an online system allowing voters to update their registration information electronically instead of submitting paper forms. Registered voters with a valid South Dakota driver's license or ID card can use this system to change details like their address, phone number, email, name, or party affiliation. The system will verify the voter's identity and require them to sign a sworn statement confirming they are already registered and authorizing the update.

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.

update maintenance requirements for voter registration files.

South Dakota counties must now send notices to voters suspected of having moved and remove them from the voting rolls if they don't respond to confirm their current address. The bill also clarifies that county auditors must update voter registration files twice yearly (at least 60 days before general elections) and keep records of purged voters for 22 months.

provide for certain permissible dates for municipal and school district elections.

This bill changes when municipalities must hold their annual elections by replacing the fixed date of the second Tuesday in April with two new options: the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The bill also allows municipalities to hold combined elections with school districts on either of these new dates, provided both governing bodies agree. Municipal governments must announce which date they're using by January 14th of the election year.

provide for certain requirements in the absentee ballot application process.

SB 123 makes three changes to how absentee ballot applications are distributed in South Dakota. First, it prohibits anyone from handing out pre-filled absentee ballot applications with a voter's name and address already on them (except for authorized ballot requesters and those assisting voters with disabilities). Second, it requires that only the official state ballot application can be distributed, and anyone else distributing applications must clearly identify themselves in writing and disclose that the application is not from the government and is not an actual ballot.

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.

proposing and submitting to the electors at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, establishing the commissioner of agriculture and natural resources as an elected constitutional officer.

This proposal asks South Dakota voters to amend the state constitution to make the commissioner of agriculture and natural resources an elected position rather than an appointed one. Currently, the governor appoints this official, but if voters approve this amendment, South Dakota citizens would elect this commissioner directly in general elections.

modify the date for the state's presidential primary elections.

This bill moves South Dakota's presidential primary election from June to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March during presidential election years. The state will reimburse counties for any extra costs caused by holding this earlier election. Candidates and groups supporting presidential candidates must now notify the Secretary of State by the last Tuesday in December (instead of March) before the presidential primary election.