Search Bills

make an appropriation for costs related to the suppression of wildfires impacting the state and to declare an emergency.

HB 1062 appropriates state funds to pay for wildfire suppression costs that have affected South Dakota and declares an emergency to expedite this spending. The bill modifies the state's emergency appropriations process and repeals several outdated emergency-related provisions from state law.

authorize the Board of Regents to accept and use easement proceeds for the purposes authorized by the 2022 Session Laws, chapter 198.

HB 1049 allows South Dakota's Board of Regents to use money received from easements (rights to use land) for the purposes authorized in a 2022 law, rather than being restricted in how they can spend those funds. The bill removes several outdated statutory sections and clarifies the Board's authority to manage these easement proceeds.

revise unclaimed property provisions.

HB 1118 clarifies how South Dakota handles unclaimed property by allowing the state to keep up to $50,000 in a separate trust fund to pay legitimate claims, with any remaining funds going into the general state budget. The bill also specifies that money in this trust fund can be used to cover administrative costs like selling abandoned property, mailing notices, and examining holder records. These changes streamline the process for both handling citizen claims and managing the state's unclaimed property operations.

require legislative authorization for the construction of new campgrounds and additional camping sites.

This bill requires the state Department of Game, Fish and Parks to get specific approval from the legislature before building new campgrounds or adding camping sites to existing ones, rather than allowing the department to make those decisions on its own. Currently, the department can construct recreational facilities in state parks if it gets approval from the Governor and commissioner of administration, but this bill removes campgrounds and camping sites from that authority and moves that decision-making power to the legislature.

require legislative approval for the purchase of real property by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

# HB 1180 Summary The Department of Game, Fish and Parks must now get approval from the South Dakota Legislature before purchasing any real property. This change gives lawmakers a say in when and where the department expands its land holdings, rather than allowing the department to make these purchases on its own.

Encouraging the United States Department of Veteran Affairs to allow veterans to receive long-term care services at facilities that do not otherwise meet the requirements set by the department.

This is a resolution that asks the federal Department of Veterans Affairs to allow veterans to receive long-term care services at facilities that don't fully meet the department's standard requirements. The resolution doesn't change South Dakota state law itself; instead, it's an expression of support asking the federal government to be more flexible about where veterans can access care services.

limit annual valuation increases on owner-occupied single-family dwellings.

SB167 limits how much the assessed value of owner-occupied single-family homes can increase each year for property tax purposes. Instead of allowing assessments to rise based on full market changes, this bill caps the annual valuation increase to help homeowners' property tax bills grow more predictably.

make an appropriation for victim services.

SB168 appropriates state funding for victim services in South Dakota. The bill increases the money available under state law for programs that assist crime victims, expanding the resources dedicated to victim support and compensation programs.

increase oversight of pool arrangements.

South Dakota's pool arrangements (insurance programs that multiple public agencies join together) must now receive approval from the state's Division of Insurance director before operating, and pool agents must submit detailed financial and management plans showing how the pool will handle claims, maintain cash reserves, and operate. This creates a new oversight requirement that didn't previously exist, giving the state regulator control over which pool arrangements can legally form and operate.

modify provisions pertaining to the appointment of vacant positions on a board or commission.

This bill establishes new timelines and procedures for filling vacant positions on state boards and commissions appointed by the Governor. For boards that don't require Senate approval, the Governor must fill vacancies within 120 days, and if a term expires without a new appointment within that timeframe, the current member automatically stays on for another term (unless they've hit a term limit). The bill applies similar rules to boards requiring Senate consent, ensuring these positions don't sit empty for extended periods.

prohibit the use of a deepfake to influence an election and to provide a penalty therefor.

SB 96 makes it illegal to create or use deepfake videos or images to influence South Dakota elections, establishing penalties for those who violate this rule. The bill adds this prohibition to state election law to protect voters from being misled by manipulated media of candidates or election-related content.

address South Dakota State Brand Board administration and operations.

HB 1252 makes changes to how South Dakota's State Brand Board operates and is administered, though the specific details of those changes are not included in the excerpt provided. To give you an accurate summary of what actually changes in state law, I would need to see the full bill text showing the specific amendments being made to the Brand Board's rules, staffing, procedures, or authority.

repeal the Petroleum Release Compensation Board.

South Dakota is eliminating the Petroleum Release Compensation Board, a state agency that handled claims related to petroleum spills and contamination. The bill removes the board's governing statutes and related provisions, ending this compensation program entirely.

establish a criminal background check requirement for licensure as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.

This bill requires occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to pass a criminal background check before receiving a state license to practice. The bill removes several outdated licensing provisions and consolidates the occupational therapy licensing requirements into updated regulations.

revise a provision providing authority to the Governor to enter into agreements with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

This bill clarifies that the Governor can negotiate agreements specifically with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (rather than vaguely "the federal government") to take over state radiation safety regulations that the federal government previously handled. The bill also requires that the state must have adequate funding and an established radiation protection program in place before the Governor can sign any such agreement.

revise the compensation for an improvement district board member.

This bill increases the monthly compensation cap for improvement district board members from $100 to $200 per month. Board members can still receive this amount or a different amount if voters approve it by referendum, plus travel and per diem expenses.

revise the process by which a legislative vacancy is filled.

When a state legislator leaves office, the Governor must now fill that seat by choosing from three candidates nominated by the former legislator's political party through county-level party committees in that district. The party committees have 30 days to submit their list (or just 5 days if the Legislature is in session), and the Governor then has 90 days to make the appointment (or 10 days if the Legislature is meeting).

Honoring the life of Kenneth Michael Prorok.

Based on the bill title and section amendments, HC8016 is a commemorative resolution honoring Kenneth Michael Prorok—it does not make substantive changes to state law. The bill amends various sections of South Dakota law related to how they're organized or formatted (likely to incorporate this recognition), but these are primarily procedural or structural adjustments rather than changes that affect how laws work or who they apply to.

make an appropriation to support airline terminal improvement, expansion, and infrastructure projects.

SB 106 appropriates state funding to support improvements, expansions, and infrastructure projects at South Dakota airline terminals. The bill amends the state's appropriations statute to allocate money for these airport facility upgrades.

provisionally repeal capital punishment.

SB 109 temporarily suspends South Dakota's death penalty by amending the state's capital punishment statute. The bill does not permanently eliminate capital punishment but rather puts it on hold, meaning executions cannot be carried out during the suspension period. This is a provisional repeal, so the death penalty could potentially be reinstated in the future if the legislature votes to do so.

revise provisions pertaining to voter registration requirements and the state board of elections.

SB 123 requires South Dakota's State Board of Elections to meet annually to review state election laws and recommend any needed changes to the Secretary of State. The bill changes the current requirement that the board meet only before each legislative session, making these review meetings a regular annual occurrence regardless of the legislative calendar.

require the Department of Social Services to conduct a state-wide study on child care, to provide an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota's Department of Social Services must conduct a statewide study examining child care needs, availability, and costs across the state. The bill provides funding for this study and declares it an emergency measure, allowing the study to move forward quickly without the usual legislative delays.

prohibit the imposition of fishing and hunting license fees on members of an Indian Tribe.

SB 140 eliminates fishing and hunting license fees for members of Indian Tribes in South Dakota. This change allows tribal members to fish and hunt without paying the license fees that other South Dakota residents must pay.

establish the admissibility of evidence of similar acts in civil cases involving sexual assault or child molestation.

SB 149 expands the types of evidence that can be presented in civil lawsuits involving sexual assault or child molestation by allowing courts to admit evidence of similar acts committed by the defendant. This change makes it easier for plaintiffs to prove a pattern of behavior by the accused, rather than limiting cases to only the specific incident being sued over.

require a comparison of reemployment assistance recipients against death records for reemployment assistance eligibility integrity.

South Dakota's Department of Labor and Regulation must now check unemployment benefits recipients against death records each month to prevent deceased individuals from continuing to receive reemployment assistance payments. The bill adds this death record verification requirement to the department's existing monthly checks against new hire records and incarcerated individuals' records to ensure only eligible people receive benefits.

revise notarial acts.

SB 211 updates South Dakota's rules for notarized documents by allowing electronic signatures and printed copies of electronically signed documents to be recorded without requiring original paper signatures. The bill also clarifies that documents attached as exhibits to signed affidavits and certain financing statements no longer need original signatures to be filed with the register of deeds.

allow for the payment of goods or services by a school district between school board meetings in certain circumstances.

SB 212 allows school districts to pay for goods and services without waiting for a school board meeting in certain emergency or time-sensitive situations, rather than requiring all purchases to be approved at a scheduled board meeting. The bill modifies existing procurement rules to create an exception process for urgent needs while maintaining oversight through a new section in state law.

provide that certain personal information of a lottery prize winner may only be used for advertising or promotion with the winner's consent.

Lottery winners in South Dakota can no longer have their personal information used for advertising or promotion without their permission. The bill updates lottery prize winner privacy protections and removes outdated provisions from state law related to lottery administration. This gives lottery winners control over whether their names and details can be used in marketing or promotional materials.

repeal the Visitation Grant Advisory Group.

SB 61 eliminates the Visitation Grant Advisory Group, which was a state advisory body, by removing the laws that created and governed it. The bill removes references to this group from state law and repeals the specific sections that established its duties and operations.

Opposing the adoption and development of a central bank digital currency.

# SCR 603 Summary This resolution expresses South Dakota's official opposition to the federal government adopting or developing a central bank digital currency (a government-controlled digital form of money). The resolution does not change state law itself, but rather communicates the state's policy position against this potential federal financial system.

make an appropriation for the erection of the South Dakota Sioux Code Talker Memorial and to declare an emergency.

SB 162 appropriates state funds to build a memorial honoring South Dakota's Sioux Code Talkers, who used their native language to send secret military messages during World War II. The bill declares an emergency, allowing the appropriation to take effect immediately rather than waiting for the standard effective date.

amend the requirement to employ a county veterans' service officer.

HB1007 removes the requirement that South Dakota counties must employ a county veterans' service officer, eliminating mandatory staffing positions that were previously required by law. The bill repeals several existing statutes that established and defined these officer positions while modifying related provisions in the county organization code.

modify the eligibility for admission to the state veterans' home and repeal the residency requirement.

This bill removes the requirement that veterans must be South Dakota residents to be admitted to the state veterans' home, making the facility available to veterans from other states. The bill also modifies eligibility rules for admission to the home and repeals several outdated statutory sections related to residency restrictions and admission requirements. These changes make it easier for any U.S. veteran to access South Dakota's veterans' home services regardless of where they live.

make an appropriation to the Department of Education to provide professional development in literacy to teachers, and to declare an emergency.

HB1022 appropriates money to the South Dakota Department of Education to fund professional development and training in literacy instruction for teachers across the state. The bill declares an emergency, meaning the funding takes effect immediately rather than waiting for the usual effective date, and repeals several outdated statutory provisions related to education administration.

establish qualifications for members of the Board of Education Standards.

Starting in 2024, this bill changes who can serve on South Dakota's Board of Education Standards by requiring four of the seven members to be current or former teachers, administrators, or other school professionals (employed within the last ten years), while the other three members must be regular South Dakota residents with no specific education background. The bill also clarifies term limits, allowing members to serve up to three consecutive four-year terms, with the possibility of returning after sitting out at least two years.

exclude certain crimes from presumptive probation.

HB 1089 removes certain serious crimes from South Dakota's "presumptive probation" laws, which currently require judges to presume that probation is appropriate for many offenders unless the state proves otherwise. By excluding specific crimes from this presumption, the bill gives judges more discretion to impose prison sentences instead of probation for those particular offenses.

revise the renewal fee for barber's certificate of registration.

This bill increases the annual renewal fee for barber certificates of registration from $80 to $150. The change gives the barber board authority to set renewal fees up to this new $150 limit through their standard rule-making process.

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.

increase the minimum fee required with an application for construction of an energy conversion and transmission facility.

HB1200 raises the minimum fee that companies must pay when applying to build energy conversion and transmission facilities in South Dakota, increasing it from $8,000 to $20,000. The bill also allows the state Public Utilities Commission to require higher fees by agreement with the applicant and gives the commission more flexibility in setting fees based on actual investigation and processing costs.

create the local assistance fund and to provide for the transfer of certain unobligated cash balances.

HB1216 creates a new "local assistance fund" and adjusts how South Dakota handles leftover money from the state budget each year. Instead of all unobligated cash going into the budget reserve fund (the state's emergency fund), the bill directs some of that money to this new local assistance fund to help communities, while capping the budget reserve fund at 10% of general fund spending.

Celebrating the LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit community in South Dakota.

This bill is a ceremonial resolution celebrating the LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit community in South Dakota, rather than a change to state law. The resolution does not modify, create, or repeal any existing legal rules or requirements. It serves as a statement of recognition from the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Commending and honoring the Harrisburg School Board on its selection as the Associated School Boards of South Dakota Outstanding School Board for 2023.

This resolution honors the Harrisburg School Board for being named the Associated School Boards of South Dakota's Outstanding School Board for 2023. The bill makes no changes to state law—it is purely a commendation recognizing the school board's achievement.

Acknowledging the challenges and responses during the COVID-19 pandemic and committing to accountability and action.

This concurrent resolution acknowledges the challenges and governmental responses during the COVID-19 pandemic and commits South Dakota to accountability and action going forward. Rather than changing state law, this is a symbolic measure that expresses the legislature's position on pandemic-related matters. The resolution does not create new legal requirements or alter existing regulations.

expand eligibility for the reduced tuition benefit for certain school district and Head Start employees at Board of Regents institutions to school counselors.

School counselors employed by South Dakota school districts and Head Start programs can now access the same reduced tuition benefits at Board of Regents universities that were previously limited to other district and Head Start employees. The bill also repeals several outdated sections of state law related to education benefits and makes technical updates to the tuition assistance program.

authorize the payment of administrative expenses from habitat stamp sales.

South Dakota currently requires people buying hunting and fishing licenses to purchase a habitat stamp ($10 for residents, $25 for nonresidents), with the revenue going to wildlife habitat. This bill allows the state to use some of that habitat stamp money to pay for the administrative costs of running the stamp program itself, rather than requiring those expenses to come from other state funds.

establish the nonbeneficiary student scholarship program and make an appropriation therefor.

SB157 creates a new nonbeneficiary student scholarship program in South Dakota, which provides scholarships to students who don't qualify for need-based financial aid. The bill modifies the existing scholarship law (§21-16-7) and includes funding for this new program.

rename South Scalp Creek Lakeside Use Area in Gregory County.

SB 160 renames the South Scalp Creek Lakeside Use Area located in Gregory County. The bill updates South Dakota law (codified law section 21-16-7) to reflect this new official name for the recreational area.

add a domestic abuse shelter to the definition of a community safety zone.

SB 175 adds domestic abuse shelters to the legal definition of "community safety zones" in South Dakota law. This means domestic abuse shelters will now receive the same legal protections and restrictions that apply to other community safety zones, such as schools and public parks. The change aims to better protect people seeking safety at these shelters from certain illegal activities in their vicinity.

modify provisions pertaining to the voting rights of members of an Indian tribe.

# SB 186 Summary SB 186 modifies South Dakota's voting rights laws as they apply to members of Indian tribes, making changes to the rules governing tribal member voting eligibility and participation. The specific changes to state law section 21-16-7 involve updates to how tribal members' voting rights are defined and protected under state elections provisions.

revise provisions pertaining to the consolidation or boundary changes of counties.

SB 199 updates South Dakota's rules for when counties want to merge with each other or change their boundaries, making revisions to the existing consolidation process. The bill modifies the procedures counties must follow and adds new requirements to Chapter 12-4 of state law governing these boundary changes. These changes streamline how counties can reorganize their borders and combine operations when voters approve such measures.

direct the Department of Social Services to modify administrative rules related to work requirements for the child care assistance program.

SB205 directs the Department of Social Services to update its administrative rules governing work requirements for parents and guardians receiving child care assistance. The bill modifies existing requirements in state law to adjust how the work requirement rules are structured and applied to the child care assistance program.

make an appropriation for the establishment of a Center for Quantum Information Science and Technology and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota will establish a Center for Quantum Information Science and Technology and provide funding for it through this appropriation bill. The legislation repeals several outdated statutory provisions and declares an emergency to allow the center to be created immediately rather than waiting for the standard implementation timeline. This represents a new state investment in quantum computing research and development.

modify provisions pertaining to the designation of a legal newspaper.

SB75 updates South Dakota's rules for what qualifies as a legal newspaper by allowing digital-first publications to serve as legal newspapers if they maintain at least 200 paid online subscribers and publish a print edition at least weekly with 500+ copies. The bill also clarifies that legal newspapers must devote at least 25% of their space to original news content and have been in circulation for at least one year before publishing official legal notices.

repeal certain provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

HB 1199 repeals portions of South Dakota's Uniform Commercial Code that govern which state's laws apply to securities (stocks and bonds) and security transactions. The bill removes rules that determined whether the issuer's home state, the securities intermediary's location, or the location of a physical security certificate would control legal questions about ownership rights and claims to those securities.

establish reporting requirements for future fund awards or grants and to make technical changes.

SB208 requires organizations that receive awards or grants from South Dakota's Future Fund to report on how they use those funds, establishing new accountability measures for state grant recipients. The bill also makes technical updates to existing grant-related laws to clarify reporting procedures and requirements.

repeal the expiration of a reduction in certain gross receipts and use tax rates.

HB1001 makes permanent a temporary reduction in South Dakota's gross receipts and use tax rates by repealing the laws that were set to expire this reduction. Instead of letting these lower tax rates end as originally scheduled, the bill keeps them in place indefinitely for businesses and consumers paying these taxes.

increase the amount of time permitted the Interim Rules Review Committee to review final permanent rulemaking materials.

HB1006 gives the Interim Rules Review Committee more time to examine and approve new state agency regulations before they take effect. The bill extends the review period and repeals several outdated provisions related to the rule-making process. This change allows lawmakers more opportunity to oversee and potentially challenge regulations that agencies propose.

conduct a feasibility study on the medicaid program of all-inclusive care for the elderly and make an appropriation therefor.

South Dakota will conduct a feasibility study to evaluate whether the state should adopt the federal "All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly" Medicaid program, which provides comprehensive services to help seniors stay in their communities rather than in nursing homes. The bill appropriates funding for this study and makes various updates to state health department rules. The bill repeals several outdated statutory sections related to health program planning.

exempt baby food, infant formula, and children's diapers from the state sales tax and state use tax.

South Dakota will stop charging sales tax and use tax on baby food, infant formula, and children's diapers, making these essential items free from state taxes. This change reduces the cost of these necessities for families with young children by exempting them from the 4.5% state sales tax that currently applies.

require members of the Legislature to attend a course on the federal and state constitutions.

Starting in 2025, all newly elected or newly appointed South Dakota lawmakers must complete a two-hour course on the U.S. and state constitutions before their first regular legislative session, either in person or online. Members who already took the course in a previous term don't have to take it again, and the Legislative Research Council director will organize and oversee the training.

amend provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

HB 1163 updates South Dakota's Uniform Commercial Code by clarifying and refining key definitions used in business and financial transactions, such as what constitutes an "agreement," "bank," "bearer," and "bill of lading." These changes ensure that the state's commercial law definitions align with modern business practices and remain consistent with how other states define these terms. The specific amendments modernize language around electronic documents and negotiable instruments to reflect current commerce practices.

require that a notification of medical cannabis certification be provided to a patient's primary or referring practitioner.

South Dakota's medical cannabis program now requires doctors to be notified when their patients receive a cannabis certification, ensuring their primary or referring physician stays informed about this treatment. The bill makes updates to the cannabis certification process and removes some outdated provisions from state law related to an earlier cannabis program framework. This change helps coordinate patient care between cannabis providers and a patient's regular medical team.

provide for the distribution of tax revenue from certain gross receipts occurring on fairgrounds.

SB32 changes how tax revenue from sales and other business activities at South Dakota fairgrounds is distributed among state and local entities. The bill repeals several old fairground tax provisions and updates the rules for which agencies receive shares of this tax money. The specific changes redirect some fairground tax revenue to support fair operations and local governments rather than other state programs.

revise provisions regarding repair and maintenance of mail routes.

SB37 revises South Dakota's rules for repairing and maintaining mail routes by updating related provisions in state law and removing outdated regulations that are no longer needed. The bill makes changes to how mail route maintenance is handled while eliminating four sections of old law that dealt with related matters. The specific details of what new requirements or procedures are being put in place are not clear from the available bill information provided.

modify an administrative procedure for revoking a nonresponsive insurance producer's license.

SB41 streamlines the process for revoking an insurance producer's license when they fail to respond to the state insurance department, making the revocation procedure faster and more efficient. The bill eliminates several outdated procedural requirements and clarifies the steps the insurance commissioner can take to remove a nonresponsive producer from their license list.

Honoring the life and service of Union County Sheriff Dan Limoges.

SC809 is a ceremonial bill that honors the life and service of Union County Sheriff Dan Limoges by making various technical amendments to South Dakota law across multiple chapters related to law enforcement, courts, and other state operations. The bill adds new sections to state code and revises existing language in sheriff and judicial statutes, though the specific substantive policy changes are not detailed in the excerpt provided.

prohibit an employer from withholding compensation from an employee who quits without notice.

SB220 prohibits employers from withholding an employee's earned wages or compensation if the employee quits their job without providing notice. The bill amends existing wage payment law to ensure workers receive all compensation they've already earned, regardless of how they leave their job.

improve the workforce of South Dakota.

create the indigent legal services fund, to provide ongoing revenue therefor, and to make an appropriation therefor.

SB31 creates a new fund dedicated to paying for legal representation of poor people in criminal and civil cases, and sets up ongoing money to support it. The bill eliminates several old provisions related to how the state previously funded indigent legal services and restructures the system under new rules. This ensures South Dakota has a more stable, dedicated funding stream for public defenders and court-appointed lawyers representing people who cannot afford their own attorneys.