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update provisions related to the licensure of funeral directors and the provision of funeral services.

HB 1015 updates South Dakota's funeral service laws by clarifying definitions of key terms like "branch chapel" (a visitation facility with no embalming connected to a licensed funeral home) and "funeral director" (expanding the definition to explicitly include conducting funeral services, burials, disinfecting, preserving, and cremating remains). The changes modernize the regulatory language to better reflect current funeral industry practices and the services funeral directors actually provide.

modify expiration dates and enforcement actions pertaining to pesticide applicator licenses.

# HB 1028 Summary Pesticide applicator licenses in South Dakota will have modified expiration dates and the state will have new tools to enforce licensing requirements against violators. The bill updates the definitions and rules governing when these licenses expire and what penalties the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources can impose on applicators who fail to comply with state pesticide regulations.

establish provisions relating to occupational licensing and criminal convictions.

South Dakota licensing boards can no longer automatically deny occupational licenses based solely on a criminal conviction or character concerns; instead, they must consider each case individually using only the standards set out in this law. The bill defines key terms like "occupational license" and "personal qualifications" to establish a consistent framework across all state licensing decisions involving criminal history.

provide for an annual presentation regarding Indian Law.

SB 166 requires an annual presentation to be given about Indian Law, amending the state law that governs legal education or bar requirements in South Dakota. The bill adds new requirements to §24-11-13, though the specific details about who gives the presentation and where it occurs would need the full bill text to clarify.

authorize a board of a school district to adopt policies regarding students who are registered sex offenders, and to declare an emergency.

School districts in South Dakota can now adopt policies to manage students who are registered sex offenders, giving school boards the authority to set rules about where these students can be placed or how they participate in school activities. The bill declares this change an emergency, meaning it takes effect immediately rather than waiting for the standard effective date.

provide for the study of developmental disability services and to provide an appropriation therefor.

SB 177 authorizes a study of South Dakota's developmental disability services and provides funding for that research. The bill does not change existing disability services law itself, but rather directs the state to examine how these services currently operate and are delivered.

exempt records regarding jail inmate disciplinary matters from public inspection and copying.

SB 53 makes records about jail inmate discipline confidential and prevents the public from accessing or copying them. This closes off what had previously been public information, allowing jails to keep details about inmate punishments and rule violations private.

provide for licensure by endorsement for certain licensed professionals and occupations.

South Dakota is making it easier for professionals licensed in other states to get licensed in South Dakota by creating a uniform "licensure by endorsement" process that all licensing boards must follow. Instead of each profession having different requirements, any licensed professional from another state can now get a South Dakota license if their home state's standards are substantially equivalent to South Dakota's, they can show relevant work experience or continuing education, and they have a clean disciplinary record. This streamlines the process for doctors, nurses, contractors, and other licensed professionals who want to practice across state lines.

create the South Dakota Board of Physical Therapy and make an appropriation therefor.

South Dakota is creating a new Board of Physical Therapy to regulate physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, replacing oversight by the State Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners. The bill updates the definitions and rules for physical therapy practice to reflect this new independent board structure and includes state funding for the board's operations.

Encouraging the Executive Board of the Legislature to authorize and form an interim legislative committee on nuclear power in South Dakota.

This resolution asks the Legislature's Executive Board to create a temporary committee to study nuclear power as a potential energy option for South Dakota. The committee would examine the feasibility and implications of nuclear energy development in the state during the interim period between legislative sessions.

update provisions related to the licensure of speech-language pathologists and speech-language pathology assistants.

This bill updates South Dakota's licensing rules for speech-language pathologists and their assistants by adding new definitions and clarifying their scope of practice. Specifically, it adds "endoscopy" (a procedure using cameras to evaluate swallowing and voice disorders) and "telepractice" (remote service delivery) as recognized practices, and introduces a new "provisional license" category for recent graduates completing required supervised experience. The bill also reorganizes and modernizes the existing definitions in state law to better reflect current professional standards.

establish a community paramedic endorsement.

South Dakota's emergency medical board will now be able to certify qualified paramedics as "community paramedics" if they complete special training approved by the board and pay a certification fee. Community paramedics can provide services following patient care plans developed by doctors and ambulance service medical directors, allowing them to help patients in non-emergency settings outside traditional ambulance services. The bill establishes the education requirements, application process, and fees for this new certification category.

provide for supervised practice.

University of South Dakota law school graduates can now become licensed attorneys without taking the bar exam if they complete 1,000 hours of supervised legal practice under an experienced South Dakota lawyer and meet other requirements including passing a professional responsibility exam. This creates a new pathway to practice law in South Dakota that skips the traditional bar examination requirement, though applicants must still demonstrate good moral character and be state residents.

add dental practices as eligible facilities to participate in the rural health care recruitment assistance program.

HB1155 expands South Dakota's rural health care recruitment assistance program to include dental practices, meaning dentists who set up practices in underserved rural areas can now access the same recruitment incentives previously available only to other health care providers. This change helps address dental care shortages in rural communities by offering financial or other assistance to attract dental professionals to those areas.

expand certification options for interpreters for the deaf.

South Dakota now allows deaf interpreters to become certified through additional organizations beyond just the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and the National Association of the Deaf—including the Educational Interpreters Proficiency Assessment and any other entity approved by the Department of Human Services. The state will review certifications from these organizations to ensure they meet minimum competency standards. Interpreters who were certified by the state before 2006 can continue their certification if they keep their registration current and complete required continuing education hours.

modify practice criteria for physician assistants.

Senate Bill 175 modifies how physician assistants in South Dakota can practice by changing the terminology from "supervising physician" requirements to a "practice collaborative agreement" model that emphasizes communication and consultation between the physician assistant and their supervising physician rather than strict oversight. The bill requires that physician assistants with fewer than 2,080 practice hours must have a written agreement with their supervising physician that describes what tasks they can perform and the level of supervision they'll receive. This shift moves toward a more collaborative relationship between physician assistants and physicians while maintaining physician oversight for less experienced practitioners.

exclude township-owned self-propelled machinery, equipment, and vehicles from fuel excise tax.

SB 73 exempts township-owned self-propelled machinery, equipment, and vehicles from South Dakota's fuel excise tax. This means townships won't have to pay the state fuel tax on these vehicles and equipment they own and operate.

reinstate the restricted real estate broker's license for auctioneers and revise real estate licensing.

This bill reinstates a restricted real estate broker's license category specifically for auctioneers who were licensed before July 1, 2020, allowing them to conduct real estate auctions without needing a full broker's license. The bill clarifies definitions in South Dakota real estate law to recognize auctioneers as a distinct category of licensed professionals who can auction real estate and business property at public sales to the highest bidder.

revise provisions relating to addiction and prevention services professionals.

SB8 increases the licensing fees that addiction and prevention services professionals must pay to the South Dakota Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals. Specifically, it raises application and exam fees from $250 to $350, renewal fees from $200 to $400, and reinstatement fees from $100 to $250, while keeping some other fees unchanged.

revise provisions regarding industrial hemp.

This bill updates South Dakota's industrial hemp regulations by clarifying key definitions used in the state's hemp licensing system. The changes specify what counts as a "greenhouse" for hemp cultivation (at least 2,880 square feet, enclosed structures not attached to homes) and refine the definition of hemp itself and who qualifies as a "key participant" in hemp businesses applying for grower or processor licenses.

prohibit deceptive practices in the advertising and sale of food products as meat and poultry.

This bill makes it illegal to falsely advertise or sell food products as meat or poultry when they don't meet South Dakota's legal definitions of those products—for example, selling plant-based products labeled as "meat" when they don't qualify. Violators face Class 2 misdemeanor charges. The law targets deceptive marketing practices to protect consumers from being misled about what they're buying.

prevent financial services providers from denying service based on certain grounds.

Banks, insurance companies, and other financial services providers cannot deny services to customers based on non-financial factors like environmental or social concerns, diversity initiatives, or subjective measures—they can only reject applicants who fail to meet documented, risk-based financial standards set in advance. The law also prohibits financial institutions from selectively denying services in ways that unfairly disadvantage someone from competing in a market where the institution has a financial interest, or from coordinating with other institutions to deny services.

ensure the proper labeling of American Indian arts and crafts.

This bill updates South Dakota's law against selling fake American Indian arts and crafts by clarifying language and modernizing the wording. The law still requires anyone selling items that aren't authentic American Indian-made goods to display a warning sign (at least 24 by 16 inches with half-inch lettering) stating the item is not genuine, with violations remaining a Class 2 misdemeanor.

modify and establish provisions related to medical cannabis.

HB1129 updates South Dakota's medical cannabis rules by clarifying what amounts patients can legally possess and grow, including up to three ounces of cannabis, a set quantity of cannabis products, and (for those with cultivation permits) four plants plus any homegrown products kept at the cultivation site. The bill also establishes clearer requirements for the doctor-patient relationship needed to qualify for medical cannabis, requiring practitioners to conduct an in-person physical exam and assessment before certifying a patient for use.

revise provisions regarding vehicle warranty claims.

South Dakota vehicle manufacturers can no longer charge dealers back for approved and paid warranty claims unless the claim was fraudulent, the repairs were done poorly, or the repairs weren't needed. The bill protects dealers from chargebacks when they properly document their work and can show the repair actually fixed the customer's problem.

revise provisions regarding vehicle dealer warranty compensation.

Vehicle manufacturers must compensate dealers for warranty work on recalls and safety campaigns, and this bill prevents manufacturers from dodging that requirement by disguising parts or providing free components instead of paying dealers directly. The bill also prohibits manufacturers from charging dealers any fees or surcharges when dealers perform this warranty work.

Celebrating the profound commitment and accomplishments of Dr. Rick and Valerie Melmer in developing leaders in South Dakota.

This is a ceremonial resolution that doesn't change any state law. The House of Representatives is expressing appreciation for Dr. Rick and Valerie Melmer's work in developing leaders in South Dakota.

revise provisions pertaining to the South Dakota School for the Deaf.

This bill revises the definition of "public employee" under South Dakota labor law, specifically to clarify which school administrators and staff are covered by public employee protections and collective bargaining rights. The changes appear to refine how the South Dakota School for the Deaf and other public schools categorize their employees for purposes of state employment laws.