SB47

This bill narrows the default penalty for violating state laws that don't specify their own punishment. Currently, violations of most South Dakota statutes without an explicit penalty are automatically Class 2 misdemeanors; this bill carves out additional legal codes (Titles 1-11, 13-20, 22, and 25-62) from that default rule, meaning violations in those areas will no longer automatically become Class 2 misdemeanors unless the statute itself says otherwise. The change essentially gives legislators in those specific legal areas more flexibility to define their own penalties rather than defaulting to a 30-day jail sentence or $500 fine.