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specify the venue of appeal to circuit court for persons committed to a mental health facility.

When people committed to mental health facilities want to appeal their commitment in court, this bill specifies that their appeals must be filed in circuit court in the county where they are currently located, rather than allowing appeals in other venues. The change clarifies the proper court location for these appeals across South Dakota's mental health commitment process.

Honoring Hayden Joe Schmautz of Fort Pierre for a life of service tragically cut short.

HC 8013 is a ceremonial resolution that honors Hayden Joe Schmautz of Fort Pierre for his service and life. The bill does not make any substantive changes to South Dakota law, but rather adds a commemorative section to state code recognizing his memory.

Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, underscoring that an individual must be a citizen of the United States to be eligible to vote.

This resolution asks South Dakota voters to approve a constitutional amendment explicitly stating that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in the state. The amendment clarifies voting eligibility requirements in the state constitution and will appear on the next general election ballot for voter approval.

establish a civil action for nonconsensual condom removal.

This bill creates a new civil lawsuit that people can file against someone who secretly removes a condom during sexual activity without their consent. The person who was wronged can recover money for damages, punitive damages (extra punishment money), court costs, attorney fees, and can seek compensation for emotional harm related to pregnancy or disease risks.

Honoring the Estelline/Hendricks Redhawks for winning the State A gymnastics title two years in a row.

HC 8021 is a ceremonial resolution that honors the Estelline/Hendricks Redhawks gymnastics team for winning the State A gymnastics championship in back-to-back years. The resolution expresses the South Dakota House of Representatives' appreciation for the team's achievement but does not make any substantive changes to state law.

Celebrating John and Laurie Stiegelmeier’s contributions to the State of South Dakota and South Dakota State University.

This is a resolution honoring John and Laurie Stiegelmeier for their contributions to South Dakota and South Dakota State University—it does not change any state law. The document shown is primarily Senate journal proceedings from January 17, 2024, and does not contain the actual text of SC802.

To refer to the voters the question of whether this state should lower the state sales and use tax rate on food to zero percent, and to increase certain gross receipts tax rates, excise tax rates, and use tax rates.

This bill asks South Dakota voters whether to eliminate the state sales tax on food by reducing it to zero percent. To make up the lost tax revenue, the state would increase taxes on other items, including certain gross receipts taxes, excise taxes, and use taxes.

permit a hunter with a disabled hunter permit to use a motorized wheelchair for hunting on school or public lands.

Disabled hunters who hold a disabled hunter permit can now use motorized wheelchairs while hunting on school and public lands in South Dakota. This change allows hunters with mobility challenges to access hunting opportunities that were previously restricted by equipment rules. The law makes hunting more accessible for people with disabilities by removing the motorized wheelchair prohibition on these lands.

clarify references to the court in a condemnation proceeding.

This bill clarifies the language in South Dakota's condemnation law (used when the government takes private property) to make it mandatory, not optional, that courts award attorney fees and expert witness costs to property owners when they win significantly more than the government's final offer. The change replaces permissive language ("may") with mandatory language ("must") and updates references to ensure courts clearly understand their obligations in these cases.

modify the criteria for removal from the sex offender registry.

SB 27 makes it harder for sex offenders to get removed from South Dakota's sex offender registry by increasing the waiting period from 5 to 10 years for Tier I offenders and narrowing which crimes qualify for removal eligibility. The bill also eliminates removal eligibility for certain offenses that were previously allowed and repeals several existing removal provisions from state law.

enhance the penalty for rape of a child twelve years of age or under.

This bill allows South Dakota to impose the death penalty for rape of a child twelve years of age or under, upgrading the crime from a Class C felony to a Class A felony. Currently, rape of a child under thirteen is treated as a serious felony but does not carry a potential death sentence, while this change makes it eligible for capital punishment like murder.

allow compliance with seat belt laws to be considered in determining damages for injuries.

This bill allows evidence of whether someone was wearing a seatbelt to be used in civil injury lawsuits to reduce the damages they can recover, whereas current law prohibits introducing seatbelt non-compliance as evidence in civil cases. The change means that if you're injured in an accident and sue for damages, the other party can argue that your failure to wear a seatbelt contributed to your injuries and should lower the amount you receive. Criminal prosecutions for seatbelt violations remain unaffected by this change.

establish the admissibility of evidence of similar crimes in sexual assault cases.

South Dakota courts will now be allowed to tell juries about other sexual assaults a defendant has committed when deciding whether he's guilty of a current sexual assault charge. Prosecutors must tell the defendant and his lawyer about this evidence at least 15 days before trial so he has time to prepare a defense.

Recognizing the annual South Dakota Senior Games.

SC808 is a resolution that officially recognizes and honors the annual South Dakota Senior Games as a statewide event. This is a ceremonial measure that does not change any existing state laws, but rather designates the Senior Games for formal state recognition.

revise and repeal provisions related to threatening persons holding statewide office, judicial officers, and elected officers and to provide a penalty therefor.

SB 146 creates a new Class 5 felony for threatening to kill or seriously injure elected officers (including state officials, judges, legislators, and school board members) or their immediate families when the threat relates to their official duties. The bill repeals an older law that only covered threats against constitutional officers sent through the mail, replacing it with this broader protection that covers all types of threats (verbal, written, or electronic) against a wider range of elected officials.

prohibit the imposition of additional immunization requirements on children.

SB 100 prevents the state from requiring additional vaccinations for children beyond what is currently mandated by law. The bill amends existing immunization requirements in state law to freeze the list of required vaccines and prohibit the addition of new vaccine requirements in the future.

establish the crime of threatening or intimidating an election official or election worker.

South Dakota is creating a new crime of threatening or intimidating election officials and election workers, making it illegal to threaten, harass, or intimidate people who work at the polls or administer elections. The bill repeals several outdated election-related provisions while updating existing election laws to include protections for these workers. This change aims to protect election staff from violence and intimidation while they perform their duties.

require proper storage of a firearm and to provide a penalty therefor.

This bill creates a new law requiring all firearm owners in South Dakota to store their guns securely—either by carrying them, keeping them within immediate reach, locking them in a safe or container, using a trigger lock, or rendering them inoperable—with stricter rules against leaving firearms unattended in vehicles. Violators face criminal penalties (Class 2 misdemeanor for first offense, Class 1 for subsequent offenses) and can be sued for damages if a minor or other unauthorized person uses the improperly stored firearm to commit a crime. Law enforcement agencies are exempt from this requirement if they have their own firearm storage policy.

revise a provision related to threatening law enforcement officers.

SB77 creates a new law making it a Class 5 felony to threaten to kill or harm elected officials, law enforcement officers, or their immediate families through verbal, written, or electronic communication. The bill repeals an older law that only covered threats against constitutional officers sent through the mail, replacing it with a broader rule that covers all types of threats to a wider range of officials including school board members and local elected officials. If a threat also violates other existing assault or threatening laws, those harsher penalties apply instead.