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repeal the authorized forfeiture of property used in the illegal capture of fish.

HB1018 removes the authority for the state to seize and forfeit equipment and property used to illegally catch fish. Currently, South Dakota law allows law enforcement to confiscate boats, nets, and other gear used in unlawful fishing; this bill eliminates that penalty option.

allow townships to assess up to four dollars per front foot for a township paved road in a paved development and assess properties within three hundred feet of the paved road.

HB 1107 allows townships to charge property owners up to $4 per front foot to help pay for paved roads in developed areas. The assessment can apply to properties within 300 feet of the paved road, even if they don't directly border it.

revise provisions pertaining to absentee voting at nursing facilities, assisted living centers, or hospitals.

This bill streamlines absentee voting at nursing facilities, assisted living centers, and hospitals by allowing election officials to waive the standard identification and affidavit requirements when voters complete a combined ballot application and return envelope at these facilities. The change makes it easier for residents at these locations to vote without needing separate identification documents, while maintaining the existing requirement that counties notify political parties when they conduct absentee voting at these facilities.

modify the requirements for eligibility to vote by absentee ballot.

South Dakota is modifying when absentee voting periods begin, with different timelines for different voters. Most voters (those absent from their county or unable to vote due to disability, illness, religious observance, school attendance, or work) can begin voting absentee 30 days before an election, while military and overseas voters get an earlier start at 46 days before the election. This change tightens the absentee voting window for most South Dakotans while preserving the longer period for uniformed services and overseas voters under federal law.

revise provisions related to residency for voter registration.

HB1232 updates South Dakota's voter registration rules by establishing clearer standards for what counts as "residency" for voting purposes, replacing vague language with specific criteria such as having a fixed home where you intend to return, not claiming residency solely for tax or insurance reasons, and maintaining sleeping accommodations at that location. The bill also creates a new appeals process allowing people denied voter registration based on residency to challenge the decision before a hearing examiner, and includes special provisions for homeless individuals to register using alternative addresses like shelters or public spaces.

require written consent for a third party to transmit a completed voter registration form.

This bill requires government employees and contractors to get written permission from voters before submitting their voter registration forms on their behalf. Anyone who collects a registration form must deliver it by certified mail with the voter's written consent, and violating this requirement is now a Class 2 misdemeanor.

establish a citizen's legal standing to request a writ of mandamus or prohibition.

This bill allows any registered South Dakota voter to sue state or local election officials in court if those officials fail to follow election laws or rules, or if they act without legal authority. Voters have 30 days after an election's official vote count to file these legal challenges, called writs of mandamus (to force officials to do their job) or prohibition (to stop officials from overstepping their authority).

revise certain provisions relating to voter registration.

SB 140 updates South Dakota's voter registration language to use gender-neutral terms (such as "the person" instead of "he") and clarifies that people can register to vote if they will have voter qualifications by the next election. The bill also updates references to federal absentee voting laws to reflect current U.S. Code sections and their effective dates.

permit the display of campaign signage in municipalities prior to the beginning of absentee voting.

This bill allows campaign signs to be displayed on private property in South Dakota municipalities starting 45 days before absentee voting begins, with smaller signs (under 4 square feet) permitted in residential areas and larger signs (under 32 square feet) allowed in business and commercial areas. The signs must be placed with the property owner's permission, cannot block roadways or visibility, and can stay up through election day, with municipalities deciding when they must be removed afterward. This creates a new statewide rule for campaign sign timing that previously may have been handled differently or not addressed in state law.

clarify registration and residence requirements for voting at a township meeting.

HB 1148 clarifies who can vote at township meetings by requiring voters to be registered and actually live in the township (with exceptions for college students who previously lived there and military members stationed elsewhere). The bill also changes how voting eligibility challenges are handled at township meetings—instead of following the same process as general elections, officials now require the challenged person to sign an affidavit about their residency, with false statements being a Class 2 misdemeanor.

facilitate the process of establishing election precincts and polling places by counties.

This bill requires county commissioners to review and update their election precincts and polling places after each legislative redistricting to ensure they align with new district boundaries. It also adds a principle to state redistricting law stating that legislative districts should respect election precinct boundaries whenever possible, unless doing so would violate equal protection requirements or prevent districts from being convenient, contiguous, and compact.

establish educational standards for the expanded practice of optometry.

SB87 updates South Dakota's rules for what additional procedures and responsibilities optometrists can take on beyond their current scope of practice, while removing some outdated regulations about optometry licenses. The bill modifies educational standards that optometrists must meet to expand their practice capabilities in the state.

modify certain provisions pertaining to absentee voting.

HB1165 strengthens the requirements for absentee ballot applications by making the oath requirement mandatory and clarifying that applicants must either provide a notarized oath or submit a copy of their voter identification card with their request. The bill also specifies that voter identification cards submitted with absentee applications cannot be made available for public inspection.

provide for the election of State Brand Board members.

This bill changes how the State Brand Board fills open positions by requiring future vacancies to be filled through election rather than appointment. Candidates must meet eligibility requirements including being at least 18 years old, owning at least one registered brand, earning most of their income from livestock, and residing in South Dakota's livestock inspection area. The State Brand Board will handle nominations and elections, with information about the process posted on websites, social media, livestock publications, and at livestock auction markets.

provide for the recall of school board members.

South Dakota school board members can now be recalled by voters through a petition process established in this new law. A recall petition must describe specific grounds for removal (such as misconduct, incompetence, or corruption), be signed by at least 15 percent of registered voters in the school district, and be filed with the school district's business manager. The State Board of Elections will set rules for how recall petitions are formatted and processed.