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Repeal provisions regarding the state payment for burial of veterans.

South Dakota would eliminate its program that pays up to $100 toward the burial costs of veterans who meet residency requirements. This repeal removes a benefit that veterans and their spouses have previously been entitled to receive from the state.

Provide free state park and recreation area admission to current and former members of the South Dakota National Guard and their spouses and dependents.

South Dakota National Guard members (current or retired) and their spouses and dependents will now receive free admission to state parks and recreation areas, expanding a benefit that previously applied only to veterans with service-connected disabilities. These National Guard members and their families will also receive a 50% discount on camping and electrical service fees at state parks.

Make an appropriation for a grant to assist in the construction and equipping of a veteran’s skilled trade center.

South Dakota will allocate $3.2 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs to help build and equip a new skilled trade center for veterans near Hot Springs. The center will offer mental health support, PTSD counseling, and job training to veterans, with any unused funds reverting back to the state by June 30, 2028.

Modify the tuition benefit for dependents and spouses of disabled and deceased veterans.

HB1198 expands South Dakota's tuition waiver program for dependents and spouses of disabled and deceased veterans by clarifying eligibility requirements and extending benefits to spouses of disabled veterans (not just deceased veterans). The bill allows qualifying dependents aged 15-24 and spouses to attend any state Board of Regents or technical education institution tuition-free for up to four consecutive academic years, as long as the veteran parent or spouse served at least one year and was a South Dakota resident before enlisting.

Authorize the expansion of the South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota is funding an expansion of the State Veterans Cemetery with $75,000 in state money, $1.5 million in federal funds, and $75,000 from other sources. The Department of Veterans Affairs will manage the project to build more burial space for veterans. The bill declares an emergency so the funding takes effect immediately rather than waiting for the normal budget cycle.

Supporting the establishment of a standardized system to recognize and award academic credit or certification for military service.

SCR 603 is a resolution expressing support for creating a standardized system that allows military veterans to receive academic credit or college certification based on their military training and service. The resolution notes that military training often meets or exceeds civilian college standards and points to existing federal programs (like the Department of Defense's Voluntary Education Partnership) that already help veterans translate their military experience into recognized credentials. This resolution does not change state law itself, but instead urges the state to support efforts to recognize military training as equivalent to civilian education and training requirements.

Supporting the expansion of transportation services for veterans receiving medical care in this state.

This concurrent resolution expresses the legislature's support for expanding transportation services available to South Dakota veterans who need to travel for medical care, particularly those living in rural areas. The resolution highlights challenges like volunteer driver shortages and the need to help veterans with lower disability ratings access care, and calls for growth in programs like the Highly Rural Transportation Grant to better serve this population.

Modify provisions pertaining to improper collection of fees relating to assistance or referrals in a veterans benefits matter.

This bill prohibits people from charging fees for helping veterans apply for or obtain veterans benefits, or for referring veterans to someone who provides such help. The only exception is for attorneys who split fees with other attorneys according to professional conduct rules. Violations are treated as deceptive trade practices under South Dakota consumer protection law.

Allow nonresident military members to purchase three-day temporary nonresident waterfowl licenses.

Active-duty military members who live outside South Dakota can now buy one fall three-day waterfowl hunting license per year by showing a valid military ID and obtaining the required federal permits. These licenses allow hunting on private land only and don't count toward any limit on the total number of licenses the state can issue.

Establish protections for a veteran seeking assistance in a veterans' benefit matter.

HB1238 requires anyone who helps veterans apply for federal or state veterans benefits to provide a written agreement upfront that clearly states what services they'll provide and how much they'll charge. The agreement must also disclose that the service provider is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the provider must keep a copy of the signed agreement for at least one year after services end.

Permit a school district to implement a new or revised section 504 plan, individualized family service plan, or individualized education program for a student who is the child of an active-duty member of the United States armed forces.

School districts must implement a new or revised special education or disability services plan within 30 days when a student whose parent is being militarily transferred to South Dakota enrolls, unless the school district staff agree to continue the student's existing plan from their previous school. This applies to students who have a Section 504 plan, individualized education program (IEP), or individualized family service plan. The bill requires the military family to provide the current plan to the school district before enrollment.

Waive the driver license renewal period for members of the military and their families, and employees of the state department.

This bill allows active-duty military members, their families, and state Department of Defense employees to renew their driver's licenses outside the normal 180-day renewal window. The change makes it easier for these groups to maintain valid licenses despite military deployments or other service-related scheduling challenges.

Allow a student to wear certain military decorations at a school graduation ceremony and to declare an emergency.

Students who have enlisted in the South Dakota National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces can now wear military decorations like sashes or stoles at their high school graduation ceremonies, as long as those items were officially issued by the military. This creates a new permission that schools must allow, removing any previous restrictions on wearing such military regalia during graduation.

Allow additional forms to verify military service for a veteran designation on a commercial driver license or commercial learner's permit.

South Dakota currently requires veterans seeking a "veteran" designation on a commercial driver's license to submit specific military discharge paperwork (DD-214 form or retired forms). This bill expands the accepted documents to include a National Guard form, a Uniformed Services ID card, and certificates from county veterans service officers, making it easier for veterans to prove their service. The bill also broadens the definition of who qualifies as a "veteran" to match the state's general veteran definition rather than requiring only honorably discharged service members.

Require the reporting of the number of veterans who die by suicide in this state.

South Dakota's Department of Health will now be required to publish annual data on its website showing how many state residents who served in the U.S. armed forces or South Dakota National Guard died by suicide in the previous year. This new requirement takes effect immediately and creates a yearly reporting deadline of August 1st to track veteran suicide deaths statewide.

Set aside certain contractor's excise tax collections relating to the Ellsworth Air Force Base, to create a fund for the collections, and to provide an appropriation therefor.

South Dakota will create a new fund called the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority support fund that collects excise taxes from contractor projects at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Money in this fund will be used for grants to help manage the effects of the base's expansion and support the base's mission and troops. The Ellsworth Development Authority will administer the fund and report annually to a legislative committee on how grant money is being spent.

Update provisions of the South Dakota Retirement System.

This bill updates technical definitions and rules that govern how South Dakota's public retirement system calculates its funding needs and contributions. The changes clarify how the system values its assets, defines contribution rates, and specifies which employees qualify as firefighters under the system, making the retirement system's operations more precise and consistent with current practices.