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establish parameters for the reimbursement of school districts that provide free or reduced price meals to students.

HB1042 changes how South Dakota reimburses school districts for providing free and reduced-price meals to students by establishing new parameters for those reimbursements. The bill repeals four existing sections of law related to meal programs and modifies two other sections to implement these new reimbursement rules. This streamlines the state's approach to supporting school meal assistance programs.

enhance the penalty for accessory to first- or second-degree murder.

This bill increases the penalty for helping someone evade justice after they commit murder. Currently, being an accessory to any crime is a Class 5 felony, but this bill makes it a Class 4 felony (more serious) if you're helping someone who committed first-degree or second-degree murder escape detection or punishment.

establish the crime of possession of a weapon or tools with intent to commit theft and to provide a penalty therefor.

This bill creates a new crime in South Dakota for possessing a weapon or tools with the intent to commit theft. Anyone convicted of this offense would face criminal penalties under state law. The bill essentially makes it illegal to carry weapons or theft tools when planning to steal, even before any theft actually occurs.

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.

revise the eligibility of roads for the rural access infrastructure fund.

SB124 changes which roads are eligible to receive funding from South Dakota's rural access infrastructure fund by revising the eligibility requirements in state law. The bill modifies existing rules about road classifications and adds new provisions to expand or clarify which rural roads can qualify for this state infrastructure support.

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 school districts from using certain mascots and team names that are derogatory toward Native American peoples or culture.

SB 159 requires South Dakota school districts to stop using mascots and team names that are derogatory toward Native American peoples or their culture. The bill amends existing school law to establish this prohibition, effectively banning indigenous-themed names and imagery that are considered offensive or disrespectful.

establish criteria for determining certain shared parenting plan provisions.

SB 176 updates South Dakota's child custody laws by establishing new criteria that courts must consider when deciding on shared parenting arrangements between divorced or separated parents. The bill modifies the existing parenting plan provisions in state law to provide clearer guidelines for judges determining custody and visitation schedules. This change aims to create more consistent standards across the state when parents share decision-making responsibilities for their children.

expand the authorization for performance of an abortion beyond preserving the life of a pregnant female.

SB178 expands South Dakota's abortion restrictions by modifying the law that currently only allows abortions to preserve the pregnant woman's life. The bill changes what medical circumstances permit an abortion, though the specific new circumstances are not clearly shown in the provided text excerpt. The amendment significantly alters §21-16-7, the state's main abortion authorization statute.

include impacted townships in the issuance of a conditional use permit.

SB 189 expands who must be notified and included when counties issue conditional use permits by requiring that impacted townships receive notice and have input in the permit process. This change ensures neighboring townships, not just the applicant's township, can weigh in on projects that may affect them before a permit is granted.

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.

revise provisions related to the possession, distribution, and manufacture of child pornography.

This bill creates three new crimes in South Dakota law specifically targeting child sexual abuse material: possessing it (Class 4 felony with at least 1 year prison), distributing it (Class 3 felony with at least 5 years prison), and manufacturing it (Class 2 felony with at least 10 years prison). Each offense carries mandatory minimum prison sentences, with manufacturing carrying the harshest penalty since it involves creating the illegal material.

Honoring the outstanding military service of Major General Michael L. Place.

This resolution honors Major General Michael L. Place for his outstanding military service and makes updates to state law in a few areas, though the specific policy changes aren't fully shown in this excerpt. The bill amends sections related to military matters and adds new provisions to South Dakota law, but the actual details of those changes would need to be reviewed in the complete bill text.

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.

provide immunity from liability for certain actions of the State Bar and its agents.

HB1023 shields the State Bar of South Dakota and its employees from being sued for actions they take in their official duties, preventing lawsuits against the organization even if someone claims harm from the Bar's decisions or conduct. The bill also eliminates several existing sections of law that previously allowed for liability or complaints against the State Bar, effectively removing those legal remedies. This gives the State Bar broad immunity from legal accountability for its regulatory and disciplinary actions.

permit a child adjudicated delinquent for theft of a firearm to be committed to the Department of Corrections.

This bill changes what sentences a judge can impose on children found delinquent for stealing a firearm. Currently, judges must use the "least restrictive alternative" available, but this bill allows judges to commit children convicted of firearm theft directly to the Department of Corrections instead of limiting sentences to probation, fines, restitution, or community service.

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.

prohibit a person from coercing an individual to submit to certain vaccinations.

HB1248 clarifies that it's illegal for anyone—including medical boards, doctors, or other individuals—to force or pressure someone into getting a smallpox vaccination or other virus vaccinations through physical force or coercion. The bill upgrades this violation to a Class 2 misdemeanor, making it a criminal offense with potential jail time and fines. This protects individuals' right to refuse these specific vaccinations without being threatened or physically forced.

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.

increase the annual limit of tax credits that an insurance company may claim through the partners in education tax credit program.

SB72 increases the maximum amount of tax credits that insurance companies can claim each year through South Dakota's Partners in Education tax credit program. This change allows insurers to contribute more money to support education while receiving larger tax benefits in return.

prohibit the act of collusion during the procurement process and provide a penalty therefor.

This bill creates a new crime of collusion during government procurement (the process of buying goods and services) and adds it to existing penalties for misconduct by state officers and employees. State workers who knowingly participate in collusion during procurement now face removal from their job, criminal charges as a Class 1 misdemeanor, and any contracts made through collusion can be canceled and benefits forfeited. The bill also clarifies what "administering a contract" means to prevent certain routine tasks from being misused as cover for corrupt dealings.

revise provisions regarding drones.

South Dakota adds new restrictions on drone use, making it illegal to operate drones recklessly, for spying, or for harassment (a Class 1 misdemeanor), and clarifies that drone operators are liable for damage if they land on someone's property without permission—even if the landing was forced. The bill also prevents cities and counties from passing their own drone regulations on ownership, operation, licensing, or flight restrictions, leaving those rules to the state and federal government only.

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.

revise sex offender residency restrictions to include private parks, playgrounds, and pools.

Sex offenders in South Dakota are now prohibited from living within 500 feet of private parks, playgrounds, and pools in addition to the existing restrictions on public schools and public parks. The bill expands the definition of "community safety zone" where registered sex offenders cannot establish residency, though exceptions still apply for those in prison, on parole with approved housing, or with written permission from local law enforcement.

restrict the use of medical cannabis for individuals on probation or conditional release.

People on probation, conditional release, or parole in South Dakota would be banned from using medical cannabis unless it has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—effectively eliminating access to most medical cannabis products since the FDA has not approved cannabis for medical use. This new rule overrides South Dakota's existing medical cannabis law and allows probation and corrections officers to restrict defendants' and inmates' use of otherwise legal medical cannabis.

improve public safety in South Dakota.

revise provisions related to driving under the influence.

# SB 36 Summary SB 36 significantly revises South Dakota's driving under the influence laws by repealing several existing DUI-related statutes and substantially rewriting others, though the specific details of the changes are not clearly visible in the provided text excerpt. The bill appears to consolidate and modernize DUI provisions across multiple sections of state law, particularly in Chapter 8 where it makes extensive additions to the code.

adopt the social work licensure compact.

South Dakota is joining the Social Work Licensure Compact, an agreement that allows licensed social workers to practice across state lines more easily without obtaining separate licenses in each state. The bill updates South Dakota's social work licensing laws to participate in this multi-state compact and removes outdated licensing provisions that are no longer needed.

update the development and implementation of conservation district standards.

HB1031 updates how South Dakota develops and implements standards for conservation districts by revising the rules that govern their operations and eliminating outdated provisions. The bill modifies the existing requirements for conservation district standards while repealing several older regulations that are no longer needed. This streamlines the process for conservation districts to establish and follow updated practices.

prohibit the use of certain mobile electronic devices while driving, and to provide a penalty therefor.

This bill prohibits drivers from using hand-held mobile electronic devices—such as cell phones, tablets, and portable gaming devices—while operating a vehicle on South Dakota roads, including when stopped at traffic lights or in traffic. The law applies even when a vehicle is temporarily stationary, but excludes devices like CB radios and commercial two-way radios, as well as phones that are lawfully parked. Violators will face penalties as specified elsewhere in the bill.

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.

prohibit the chemical modification or conversion of industrial hemp and the sale or distribution of chemically modified or converted industrial hemp and to provide a penalty therefor.

HB1125 bans the chemical modification of industrial hemp and the sale of any chemically altered hemp products in South Dakota. The bill defines "chemically derived cannabinoids" as substances created through chemical reactions that change the molecular structure of cannabis plant chemicals, with an exception for natural heating processes that don't use chemical catalysts. Violations of this prohibition would be subject to criminal penalties under state controlled substance law.

prohibit the manufacturing, delivering, distributing, and selling of food containing specified substances.

Starting July 1, 2025, South Dakota will ban the use of four specific food additives—brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and Red dye number 3—in any food product made for human consumption. Anyone who manufactures, sells, or distributes food containing these substances will face criminal charges as a Class 1 misdemeanor. This creates a new state law that goes beyond current federal regulations on these additives.

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.

prohibit the conduct of certain physical examinations or screenings on students in a school district without parental consent.

SB 101 requires schools to get written permission from parents before conducting physical exams or health screenings on students. The bill adds new restrictions to existing student health examination rules, ensuring parents have a say in what types of medical or physical assessments their children receive at school.

require a convicted defendant to reimburse the cost of digital forensic examination fees.

SB 15 requires people convicted of crimes to pay back the cost of digital forensic examinations (like computer or phone analysis) used in their cases. The bill makes changes to how these fees are handled in the court system and eliminates some older provisions about cost reimbursement that are no longer needed.

keep interest earned on incarceration construction fund moneys in the same fund.

This bill changes where interest money goes from South Dakota's incarceration construction fund. Currently, any interest earned on money in this fund is deposited into the state's general fund, but the bill keeps that interest in the incarceration construction fund instead, so it can be used for prison and jail construction projects.

establish the minimum age for marriage.

This bill sets the minimum marriage age at 18 in South Dakota, though it allows 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with notarized parental or guardian consent. The bill repeals an older law about parental consent procedures and clarifies that anyone performing a marriage in violation of age requirements commits a Class 1 misdemeanor.

enhance right to work laws and provide a penalty therefor.

This bill prohibits employers and other entities from requiring employees or workers to show proof of vaccination (except for diseases like polio, measles, and tetanus) or to disclose their vaccination status as a condition of employment. It also makes it illegal to punish, threaten, or discriminate against someone based on their vaccination status, with violations treated as Class 2 misdemeanors.

make an appropriation for a grant to the city of Mobridge for purchasing modular holding cells.

SB200 appropriates state funding as a grant to the City of Mobridge to purchase modular holding cells for their facility. The bill makes a one-time financial commitment to help the city upgrade its detention infrastructure.