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prohibit the use of public funds for campaigning or other partisan activity.

This bill strengthens South Dakota's ban on using taxpayer money for political campaigns and partisan activities by government employees, officials, and candidates. The law now explicitly prohibits using public funds or facilities to influence elections, conduct partisan surveys, pay dues to political organizations, or direct employee pay to political entities—with violations treated as a Class 2 misdemeanor. It also bans candidates, political committees, and political parties from accepting contributions from any government agency, foreign government, Indian tribe, or federal entity.

permit the use of campaign contributions for child day care services.

Candidates in South Dakota can now use campaign contributions to pay for licensed child day care services for their dependent children, adding a new permitted use to the existing rules about how campaign money can be spent. Previously, campaign funds could only be used for campaign-related expenses, costs of holding public office, or donations to other candidates and nonprofits. This change allows politicians to cover child care costs with money they've raised for their campaigns.

permit the display of campaign signs in municipalities in conjunction with the beginning of absentee voting.

This bill allows campaign signs to be displayed on private property in South Dakota municipalities starting when absentee voting begins and lasting through election day, provided the property owner gives permission. Signs must be removed within five days after the election, and municipalities can still enforce other reasonable regulations on signs as long as they don't conflict with this new permission. Previously, there was no statewide rule permitting campaign signs to be posted at this early stage of voting.

revise the process for nominating candidates for the offices of lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.

This bill changes how South Dakota political parties nominate candidates for lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state by requiring the gubernatorial candidate to directly nominate their running mate for lieutenant governor and certify that choice to the secretary of state by the second Tuesday in August of an election year. It also allows a nominated lieutenant governor candidate to withdraw before the first Tuesday in August, and requires the governor's candidate to nominate a replacement if needed. The bill essentially shifts control of these nominations from the party convention process to the individual candidate for governor.

Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, requiring all non-judicial offices elected by a statewide vote to be nominated at a primary election.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would require all statewide elected offices (except judges) to go through a primary election before the general election. If approved by voters, this would change how candidates for offices like Governor, Secretary of State, and other statewide positions are nominated.

modify provisions regarding the process to vacate certain highways.

# SB 195 Summary SB 195 changes the process for closing certain highways in South Dakota by modifying the existing rules in state law and adding new procedures to Chapter 12-4. The bill updates how counties and the state can vacate roads, likely streamlining or altering the steps required to officially remove a highway from use.

remove the option for a court services officer to prepare documentation in an adoption proceeding.

HB 1088 removes the ability of court services officers to prepare legal documents for adoption cases in South Dakota courts. Instead, adoption documentation will need to be prepared through other means, likely requiring adoptive families or their attorneys to handle the paperwork directly. This change affects how adoptions are processed in both family court (Chapter 36-32) and the judicial system (Chapter 11-15).

modify tax refunds for elderly persons and persons with a disability, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency.

SB28 expands the tax refund program for elderly and disabled South Dakota residents by modifying eligibility requirements and refund amounts under state tax law. The bill repeals four outdated sections of law and includes a state appropriation to fund these enhanced benefits, which the legislature declares an emergency measure requiring immediate implementation.