Search Bills

Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election a law transfer the state accounting system from the Bureau of Finance and Management to the state auditor and amend provisions pertaining to the Bureau of Finance and Management.

This joint resolution asks South Dakota voters to approve moving control of the state's accounting system from the Bureau of Finance and Management to the State Auditor. The change would make the State Auditor responsible for tracking all state money received and spent across agencies, though the Bureau of Management and Budget would still request financial information as needed. If voters approve it, this restructures how the state records and reports its finances.

Update the roles of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Department of Public Safety regarding burning and burn permit issuing authority.

This bill shifts responsibility for issuing burn permits in the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District from the Department of Public Safety back to the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, along with the U.S. Forest Service supervisor. The change clarifies which state agency handles wildland fire permitting by removing Public Safety's burn permit authority while keeping their other fire-related duties.

Require legislative approval for significant capital expenditures by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

South Dakota's Department of Game, Fish and Parks will now need to get approval from the state Legislature before spending more than $1 million on buildings, facilities, infrastructure projects, or real estate purchases. If the Legislature isn't in session and time is critical, the department can get emergency approval from a special legislative committee instead. The bill prevents the department from splitting up projects into smaller pieces to avoid this approval requirement.

Require every permanent or emergency administrative rule proposal to receive the approval of an elected official before submission to the Legislative Research Council.

This bill requires state agencies to get written approval from an elected official (such as a department secretary, commissioner, or the Governor) before they can propose new permanent or emergency administrative rules to the Legislative Research Council. Currently, agencies can submit rule proposals without this elected official approval step, so this bill adds a new checkpoint in the rule-making process to give elected leaders more control over which regulations agencies can propose.

Require cost model reports for certain programs and institutions.

Starting in fiscal year 2026, state universities, technical colleges, the Department of Education, Department of Corrections, and Department of Human Services must submit cost model reports every three years showing how much it costs to operate their major programs and institutions. This is a new reporting requirement that will give the Legislature detailed financial information about the true operating costs of these public agencies and schools.

Clarify the status of the Statewide One-Call Notification Board as an agency administered by the Department of Public Safety and the duties of the Board.

This bill clarifies that the Statewide One-Call Notification Board operates as a state agency under the Department of Public Safety's administration, while remaining independently responsible for hiring its own staff, managing its own budget, and carrying out its core functions. The Department of Public Safety is designated to provide support and help coordinate the statewide one-call notification system, but the Board retains control over its own operations and spending decisions.

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.

Update the South Dakota Retirement System's member information protection provisions.

This bill updates confidentiality rules for South Dakota Retirement System member information by clarifying what counts as protected "member information" and narrowing when it can be shared. The new law limits disclosure to only three situations: with the member's permission, for administering the retirement system, or when ordered by a court or administrative proceeding—removing the previous allowance for automatic sharing with the member's employer. The bill also excludes anonymized data that cannot identify any particular member from confidentiality protections.

Update the South Dakota Retirement System member identity verification procedures.

This bill updates the rules for proving your identity when applying to the South Dakota Retirement System for membership, refunds, or benefits. It now requires applicants to submit a copy of a current government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license) or tribal ID card with their application. The change simplifies the existing process by clarifying the specific identification documents that are acceptable.

Revise and repeal certain provisions pertaining to the state library and State Library Board.

This bill streamlines South Dakota's state library operations by repealing ten outdated statutory sections that governed the State Library Board while keeping core library functions in place. The changes update language about how the state distributes legal documents to libraries and clarify state policy on providing library services across South Dakota. Overall, the bill modernizes library governance rules without eliminating public library services.

Update provisions on the interim legislative oversight of administrative rulemaking.

This bill overhauls South Dakota's system for how the Legislature reviews and oversees administrative rules created by state agencies during the time between legislative sessions. The changes update procedures for how rules are filed, reviewed, and challenged, including modifications to emergency rule processes and the legislative oversight committee's authority to examine agency rulemaking.

Prohibit the enforcement and implementation of directives from intergovernmental organizations, and to provide a penalty therefor.

This bill makes it illegal for South Dakota officials and employees to enforce or follow directives from international organizations like the United Nations, World Health Organization, and World Economic Forum, or from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued after July 1, 2025. Violations would be treated as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill essentially declares these organizations have no authority in South Dakota and prevents state and local officials from implementing their rules, regulations, policies, or mandates.

Revise the annual reporting period for public safety answering points.

Public safety answering points (911 dispatch centers) must now submit their annual reports by January 31st instead of July 31st, and the reports must cover the period from January 1st through December 31st instead of July through July. This change aligns the reporting deadline and fiscal year with the calendar year rather than a mid-year cycle.

Require legislative approval of real property leases that are necessary for the operation of state government and exceed specified durations or rental payments.

This bill requires the South Dakota Legislature to approve any real property leases that the state government needs to operate if the lease lasts longer than a certain duration or costs more than a specified annual rental amount. Currently, state agencies can enter into these leases without legislative review, but this bill adds a new approval requirement for larger or longer-term leases to give lawmakers more oversight of state spending on real estate.

Revise the authority to establish and maintain a training program for county coroners.

This bill transfers responsibility for training county coroners from the Law Enforcement Officers Standards Commission to the Department of Health, which will now establish and maintain a coroner training program covering death scene investigation and death registration. County coroners will still be required to complete initial training within one year of taking office and refresher training every two years, but the Department of Health will set the standards instead of the commission.

Modify and repeal provisions related to the Legislative Research Council.

HB1216 updates South Dakota's rules for how the Legislative Research Council operates and which committees can introduce bills in the legislature. The bill makes technical changes to clarify that certain interim committees (like the Rules Review Committee and Government Operations and Audit Committee) can introduce bills by majority vote, and it removes two outdated sections of law related to the council's operations.

Repeal the board of barber examiners and cosmetology commission, and to create the cosmetology and barbering board, to provide a penalty, and to make an appropriation therefor.

South Dakota is consolidating the Board of Barber Examiners and the Cosmetology Commission into a single agency called the Cosmetology and Barbering Board, effective July 1, 2025. Both agencies' functions and oversight will be transferred to the Department of Labor and Regulation under this new combined board structure. This merger streamlines state regulation of barbers and cosmetologists under one unified licensing and regulatory authority.

Revise the authority of the South Dakota State Historical Society Board of Trustees regarding state-owned property.

This bill gives the State Historical Society Board of Trustees the power to set standards for keeping properties on the state historic register and removes that authority, ensuring continued consistency with federal preservation standards. The bill also requires state agencies and local governments to get written permission before listing any state-owned property on the state historic register, giving them more control over whether their buildings are designated as historic.

Attach the South Dakota State Brand Board to the Office of School and Public Lands.

The South Dakota State Brand Board, which oversees livestock branding, will now report to the Office of School and Public Lands instead of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The board keeps all its current duties and authority—this is only a change in which agency it reports to for administrative purposes.

Make modifications to the implementation, review, and oversight of the internal control system of the state.

SB 53 clarifies and strengthens South Dakota's internal control system by refining definitions and establishing new oversight roles, including requiring each state agency to designate an "internal control officer" to monitor and report on their internal controls. The bill updates the definition of "internal control" to focus specifically on state agencies and their objectives, and reorganizes related terms for clarity. These changes give the State Board of Internal Control better tools to ensure state agencies are properly managing finances and preventing fraud.

Modify the authority of the Board of Internal Control.

SB61 gives the Board of Internal Control new authority to require state agencies to conduct risk reviews and establish procedures for those reviews as part of their internal control systems. The bill also clarifies the Board's power to create guidelines and standards that agencies must follow, and requires each agency to designate an internal control officer responsible for implementing these requirements. These changes strengthen the Board's oversight role in managing how state government handles financial and operational risks.

Extend the timeframe for filling a vacancy in a board of county commissioners.

When a county commissioner position becomes vacant, county boards must now fill it within 35 days or by the end of the second regular board meeting after the vacancy occurs, whichever takes longer—extending the previous timeline. The bill also clarifies that remaining board members must appoint a qualified person from the same district where the vacancy happened, and requires the county auditor to participate if an even number of commissioners remain on the board.

Modify the composition and staffing requirements of the South Dakota-Ireland Trade Commission.

This bill restructures the South Dakota-Ireland Trade Commission by replacing the automatic seat held by the agriculture secretary with a governor-appointed "officer of the Executive Branch" and adding two new private industry representatives (one appointed by the Senate leader and one by the House leader). The bill also shifts administrative support for the commission from the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources to the Legislative Research Council's Executive Board.

Require that expenditures from the department of game, fish and parks fund be budgeted through the general appropriation bill.

This bill requires that all spending from the Department of Game, Fish and Parks fund must be approved through the state's regular budget process (the general appropriation bill) rather than being spent automatically from collected revenues. The change applies across multiple funding sources used by the department, including money from habitat conservation emblems, animal damage control, and other programs. This gives the legislature more direct control over how the department spends its money instead of allowing it to spend revenues without specific annual approval.

Establish requirements that state agencies must follow when applying for federal grants.

State agencies in South Dakota must now notify the Governor, Bureau of Finance and Management, and legislative committees at least 60 days before applying for federal grants, providing detailed information about the grant's legal basis and a cost-benefit analysis. The analysis must quantify and project all direct and indirect costs and benefits to the state, grant recipients, and local governments for at least ten years after the grant ends, including any impact on state or local revenues.

Revise and clarify notice and hearing procedures of the Public Utilities Commission.

SB211 speeds up the notification timeline for people living near proposed utility facilities by reducing the notice period from thirty days to ten days after an application is filed. The bill also clarifies that the Public Utilities Commission can deny or return applications for material misstatements, incomplete filings, or non-compliance with state law, and standardizes some language in the notification requirements to ensure applicants mail notices by certified mail and include meeting details.

Amend provisions regarding the Division of Insurance and the former Division of Securities operating fund.

South Dakota is consolidating its insurance and securities operating funds into a single insurance operating fund and adjusting how money flows between these funds and the state's general treasury. The bill increases the cash threshold that must be kept in the insurance fund before excess money goes to the general fund from $175,000 to $200,000 each quarter. These changes streamline financial management for the Division of Insurance under the Department of Labor and Regulation.

Expand the access and investigatory authority of the state auditor.

South Dakota's State Auditor will gain the right to access all records, accounts, and documents from any state agency needed to conduct audits, investigate fraud or mismanagement, and check that proper financial controls exist. State agencies must now include a clause in their contracts acknowledging the auditor's access rights. These changes expand the auditor's investigatory powers beyond routine auditing to include looking into improper governmental conduct like fraud and misappropriation.

Establish a minimum combined balance of the budget reserve fund and general revenue replacement fund.

South Dakota must maintain a combined balance of at least 10 percent of next year's general fund spending in its two main savings accounts (the budget reserve fund and general revenue replacement fund). If the combined balance falls below this 10 percent threshold, the state will automatically transfer one-third of the shortfall amount each year from the general fund over three years until the savings accounts reach the required level.

Define the term "must."

South Dakota law now defines "must" as a mandatory directive that leaves no room for discretion—meaning when a law says someone "must" do something, they have no choice but to do it. This change clarifies that "must" carries the same binding force as "shall," eliminating any confusion about whether these terms might allow flexibility in following the law.

Modernize provisions relating to water development districts.

HB1072 updates South Dakota's water development district laws to clarify that these districts are legal entities and can be created either by the Legislature or through a specific petition process outlined in state law. The bill also refines the duties of water development districts, emphasizing their role in promoting water conservation and management while serving as a central resource for communities seeking technical and financial help with water projects.

Require the submission of medical, dental, and pharmaceutical claims data to the Division of Insurance and to establish a health care data system.

HB1102 eliminates several outdated insurance data reporting requirements and creates a new statewide health care data system where health insurers and dental insurers must submit claims information to the Division of Insurance. This centralized database will be used to help the government, insurers, and health care providers analyze costs, quality, access, and performance across South Dakota's health care system.

Repeal a requirement regarding possession of a registry card.

HB1124 repeals a law that previously required people to carry a registry identification card to use an affirmative defense related to cannabis possession under South Dakota law. After this change, people can use that legal defense without needing to possess or show a registry card.

Provide oversight regarding the exercise of gubernatorial emergency powers.

HB1140 adds legislative oversight to the governor's emergency powers by requiring the Legislature to review and potentially limit how long the governor can suspend state agency rules during declared emergencies. The bill modifies the existing law that currently gives the governor broad authority to suspend rules during disasters or emergencies, inserting a check on that power through the legislative branch.

Require that public entities submit to forensic accounting in cases of financial misconduct.

When the Department of Legislative Audit finds probable cause that a state agency, public institution, or other government entity has committed fraud, embezzlement, or misappropriation of public funds, that entity must undergo a forensic audit to examine all financial transactions, evaluate internal controls, and document any misconduct or irregularities. The audit can be conducted by the Department of Legislative Audit itself or by an independent forensic accounting expert, and the results must be publicly reported. The public entity being audited must pay all costs associated with the forensic investigation.

Address issues facing South Dakota.

HB 1150 is a placeholder bill with no substantive legal changes—it simply states that the Legislature intends to address unspecified issues facing South Dakota. The bill contains no actual amendments to existing law, no new regulations, and no defined policies or actions.

Provide for the administrative approval of certain drainage applications by counties.

Counties that manage drainage permits can now designate a drainage administrator to approve or deny certain straightforward drainage applications without going through the full board or commission review process. The administrator can approve projects that drain into named waterways, streams, or road rights-of-way as long as the applicant gets written approval from nearby affected landowners. More complex drainage applications that don't fit these categories still require the full board or commission approval process.

Require a school district to provide dyslexia screening.

School districts must now screen students who show signs of dyslexia and provide them with evidence-based intervention strategies if screening indicates they have dyslexia characteristics. The State Board of Education Standards will create guidelines to help teachers, administrators, and parents identify students with dyslexia and understand what educational services are available.

Update Uniform Unclaimed Property Act to include provisions related to virtual currency and notice requirements.

South Dakota's unclaimed property law is being updated to address virtual currency and modernize how businesses must notify the state about unclaimed assets. The bill amends the definitions section of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act to clarify terms and expand coverage to include digital assets like cryptocurrency that holders cannot return to owners. This ensures that virtual currency sitting in abandoned accounts gets properly reported to the state treasurer, just like traditional unclaimed property.

Permit the state to invest in Bitcoin.

South Dakota currently restricts state investment of public funds to traditional securities like government bonds, corporate debt, and bank deposits. This bill adds Bitcoin to the list of allowable investments for state public funds, allowing the state to purchase and hold cryptocurrency as part of its investment portfolio. The change permits—but does not require—state officials to invest taxpayer money in Bitcoin alongside conventional investments.

Revise provisions on interim transfers and appropriations.

This bill updates the definitions used in South Dakota's budget and appropriations process to clarify what counts as an "agency" and refine the term "general contingency funds" to apply across all agencies rather than just individual departments or institutions. The changes modernize the language in the state's budget management rules to make the appropriations process clearer and more consistent.

Urging the State Investment Council to invest in Bitcoin.

This resolution urges (but does not require) the State Investment Council to purchase Bitcoin and other digital assets as part of South Dakota's state investment portfolio. The resolution does not change any existing law—it is a non-binding request based on the argument that Bitcoin could help protect the state's finances against inflation, similar to holdings already maintained by some countries and large investors.

Revise provisions relating to the promulgation of rules to set licensing and inspection fees for plumbers and related professions.

SB 24 updates how South Dakota's State Plumbing Commission sets fees for plumbers and related tradespeople by requiring the commission to follow proper rule-making procedures under state law. The bill reorganizes and clarifies which license types (like plumbing contractors, water conditioning installers, and appliance contractors) have their fees established through this formal rule-making process rather than other methods.

Repeal the oath requirement for an application for a lodging establishment, campground, food service establishment, or mobile food service establishment license.

This bill removes the requirement that owners of lodging establishments, campgrounds, food service establishments, and mobile food service establishments must verify their license applications under oath. The change simplifies the application process by eliminating the oath verification step while keeping all other application requirements in place.

Establish mandatory reporting requirements related to improper governmental conduct and crime, and to provide a penalty therefor.

State employees with supervisory responsibilities must now report to the attorney general and state auditor if they suspect another state employee of committing a felony, engaging in fraud or misuse of office, or violating conflict-of-interest laws. Failing to make such a report is a Class 6 felony, and the attorney general must annually report to the legislature how many reports were received and what happened to each one. This creates a new mandatory reporting requirement that didn't previously exist in state law.

Revise provisions pertaining to the compulsory age for school attendance.

This bill raises the compulsory school attendance age to 18 years old for most students, while allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to leave school early if they enroll in a high school equivalency test preparation program with parental permission and meet certain conditions (such as being behind on credits, under court supervision, or in Job Corps). The changes update South Dakota's truancy laws to give older teenagers an alternative path to completing their education outside traditional graduation requirements.

Repeal reporting and testifying requirements to the committees on health and human services regarding nursing facilities and long-term healthcare needs.

South Dakota will eliminate a requirement for the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services to submit annual written reports and testify before the legislature's health committees about nursing facility bed needs and long-term healthcare planning. This removes a yearly reporting deadline (before the fourth Tuesday in January) that previously kept lawmakers informed on whether the state needed additional nursing facilities.

Restrict the deference given by courts to a state agency's interpretation of a state statute, administrative rule, or policy.

This bill changes how courts review decisions made by state agencies by eliminating the legal deference (special respect) courts normally give to agency interpretations of laws and rules. Instead, courts must independently interpret what the law means from scratch, and if any doubt remains, must choose the interpretation that best protects individual constitutional rights. The bill also clarifies that appeals of administrative cases to the Supreme Court follow the same standards as other civil appeals, except for this new requirement to review agency interpretations without deference.

Establish an electronic system for vehicle titles.

South Dakota will create an electronic system for vehicle titles to replace the paper-based system currently used by the Department of Revenue. The bill updates various sections of state law governing vehicle registration, manufactured homes, and mobile homes to accommodate this digital titling system. This change streamlines how vehicle ownership is recorded and transferred while maintaining the same legal protections and requirements that currently exist.

Revise death reporting requirements.

SB139 clarifies that funeral directors and embalmers must keep records of deaths that occurred outside South Dakota and report those records to the state health department by the fifth day of each month. The bill also requires funeral directors to notify the department if no out-of-state deaths were handled during a given month.

Revise a provision related to the reimbursement of expenses incurred by a county in detaining a parolee.

South Dakota will now reimburse counties up to $95 per day for holding parolees, with full reimbursement for any medication and medical care costs (previously the cap may have applied to all costs). The state will no longer reimburse counties for detaining parolees who are being held on criminal charges unrelated to their original conviction.

Revise the dates for submission of budget requests.

State budget units must now submit their budget requests to the Bureau of Finance and Management by September 1st instead of October 15th. The Bureau then has until October 1st to send those requests to the Legislative Research Council, moving up the previous November 1st deadline. These earlier deadlines give the legislature more time to review and prepare budgets before the legislative session begins.

Require legislative approval of real property leases that are necessary for the operation of state government and exceed specified durations or rental payments.

This bill requires the South Dakota Legislature to approve any state property leases that last more than a specified time period or cost more than a set amount annually. Currently, state agencies can enter into these leases without legislative oversight, but this bill adds a new check to ensure the Legislature reviews major real property commitments before they go forward.

Revise provisions on interim transfers and appropriations.

SB 146 updates South Dakota's budget law by revising definitions of key budgeting terms, particularly clarifying that "general contingency funds" apply to all state agencies rather than just departments and institutions. The bill reorganizes how these budget-related terms are numbered and defined in state law to improve clarity and consistency in how the state manages interim fund transfers and appropriations during the budget process.

Clarify the discovery procedures and powers and to modify the administration of the Government Operations and Audit Committee.

SB 176 expands the Government Operations and Audit Committee's investigative powers by allowing it to use civil court discovery procedures—like depositions, written questions, and document requests—in addition to its existing ability to subpoena witnesses and examine records. The bill also allows the committee to delegate these investigative and discovery powers to individual committee members or other designated individuals, provided that any subpoena is first approved by the Legislative Research Council's Executive Board.

Prohibit the expenditure of certain funds appropriated for purposes related to the construction of a prison facility.

South Dakota will freeze spending on prison construction funds that were approved in 2023 and 2024 until a newly created Incarceration Task Force issues its final recommendations. After the task force makes its recommendation, any prison construction money can only be spent in the way the task force specifies.

Clarify the Interim Rules Review Committee's oversight of emergency rulemaking.

This bill requires the Interim Rules Review Committee to hold an emergency meeting within 72 hours to approve any new emergency rules before they can take effect, where the committee will check that the agency followed proper procedures, that the rule is actually necessary, and that emergency rulemaking isn't being misused. The bill also allows the committee to conduct these emergency meetings by teleconference and requires at least 24 hours' public notice before such meetings.

Require a report regarding refugee resettlement services.

Refugee resettlement agencies operating in South Dakota must now submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature by October 1st, detailing what services they provided, how many refugees received help in each county, and basic information about those refugees (age, country of origin, education level, and gender). The agencies must also forecast how many refugees they expect to serve in the upcoming year.

Provide that public moneys for education may not be used for lobbying purposes.

School districts in South Dakota cannot use public education funds to hire lobbyists or pay membership dues to organizations that primarily represent schools and employ lobbyists. Any school district resident or state taxpayer can sue to stop violations of this rule and recover attorney's fees if they win.

Make certain federal laws applicable to public employees.

HB 1244 strengthens restrictions on state employees' political activities by prohibiting them from using their official authority to influence elections, soliciting campaign contributions at work or with state resources, and coercing other employees regarding political matters. The bill also amends the existing two-year post-employment lobbying ban to clarify it applies to top officials and their direct reports, and repeals a related provision while creating new state law that mirrors federal restrictions on public employee conduct.

Revise certain provisions pertaining to municipal government.

SB167 reorganizes and clarifies South Dakota's municipal government laws by streamlining requirements for dissolving small towns, simplifying petition procedures, and updating various municipal governance provisions across multiple chapters. The bill makes numerous technical changes to existing rules—such as clarifying which county can receive dissolution petitions for municipalities spanning multiple counties and reformatting petition requirements into a numbered list for clarity—while repealing a few outdated provisions. Overall, this bill modernizes the municipal code without substantially changing how municipalities operate, focusing mainly on making the rules easier to understand and follow.

Include a hybrid facility as a facility to be regulated by the Public Utilities Commission.

This bill expands what the Public Utilities Commission regulates by adding "hybrid facilities" (facilities that combine multiple energy sources) to the definition of "energy conversion facilities" that require state approval. Under current law, wind and solar facilities are excluded from this regulatory requirement, but hybrid facilities that can produce 100 megawatts or more of electricity will now need PUC oversight like other major power generation projects.

Transfer moneys from the South Dakota-bred racing fund to the special racing revolving fund.

This bill moves $60,000 from the South Dakota-bred racing fund to the special racing revolving fund, with the transfer taking effect on June 30, 2025. The bill doesn't change any existing rules about these funds—it simply redirects money from one racing-related account to another.

Amend provisions pertaining to the maintenance and publication of the statewide voter registration file.

HB1062 expands what information county auditors must keep in their voter registration files by requiring them to track the last four elections a voter participated in (instead of just the most recent one) and to record detailed information about absentee ballot requests, including when ballots were requested, returned, and what voting method was used. The bill also continues to protect sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and dates of birth from public access while keeping the registration files otherwise open for inspection during office hours.

Create the McCook Lake contingency fund and to transfer moneys to the fund.

South Dakota creates a new McCook Lake contingency fund in the state treasury to pay for cleaning up and restoring McCook Lake, including fixing its pumping system and planning for flood mitigation. The state will transfer $2 million from the general fund to this new account, which will be managed by the state treasurer and will keep any interest earned within the fund.

Transfer certain moneys and to make an appropriation for the operations of the state library.

This bill moves $2,047,984 from the livestock disease emergency fund to the state's general fund, then appropriates that same amount to the Department of Education to operate the State Library. Any money not spent by the deadline will be returned to the general fund according to standard procedures.

Amend the bond requirement for certain municipal officers.

This bill clarifies the bonding rules for municipal officers by allowing cities to use blanket insurance coverage instead of requiring individual bonds for each officer. The bill also updates the language requiring municipal finance officers to maintain bonds based on the maximum money they handle, with caps of $250,000 for first-class cities and $150,000 for second and third-class cities—but again, only if the city doesn't have blanket coverage.

Revise the process for nominating candidates for lieutenant governor.

This bill changes how lieutenant governor candidates are chosen in South Dakota. Instead of delegates voting to nominate a lieutenant governor at the state party convention, the gubernatorial candidate will now directly nominate their own running mate by submitting a certification to the secretary of state by a deadline in August. The nominated lieutenant governor candidate can withdraw, in which case the governor candidate must submit a replacement nominee by the same deadline.

Clarify certain labeling and sales requirements for homemade food items.

This bill updates the labeling requirements for homemade foods sold under South Dakota's home food operation exemption, clarifying that the required information (product name, producer contact details, ingredients, and allergen warnings) can be displayed on a package label, container label, or point-of-sale placard instead of only on the product itself. The bill also changes the allergen disclaimer language to specify that the food was "produced at a residential property" rather than just stating it wasn't made in a commercial kitchen.

Increase the maximum amount allowable for the livestock ownership inspection fee and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota currently caps the livestock ownership inspection fee at $1.70 per head of livestock, and HB1213 increases that maximum amount (though the bill text excerpt doesn't specify the new cap). The bill also declares an emergency so the fee increase takes effect immediately upon passage rather than waiting for the normal legislative effective date.

Provide that no county transfer jurisdiction of a county highway to a municipality unless the highway meets a minimum pavement condition rating, or unless there is mutual agreement of the county and municipality.

Counties can only transfer control of their highways to municipalities if the road meets a minimum pavement quality standard (a rating of 85 or higher), unless both the county and municipality agree to the transfer anyway. This new requirement prevents counties from passing off poorly maintained roads to cities without their consent.

Shorten the time before records of a Governor or a lieutenant governor are opened to the public.

This bill reduces the time before a Governor or Lieutenant Governor's private records become public from ten years to five years after they leave office (or upon their death, whichever comes later). The change makes these records available to the public sooner, allowing greater transparency into the actions of these state officials after they've left their positions.

Revise provisions relating to licensing fees and license renewal dates for the practice of barbering and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota barbers must now renew their licenses by May 31st instead of July 1st, with licenses expiring June 1st instead of June 30th. The bill also increases the maximum licensing fees that the Board of Barber Examiners can charge, including raising the exam fee cap from $100 to $300, the renewal fee from $80 to $300, and the certificate restoration fee from $20 to $35 (plus penalties). The bill declares these changes an emergency, meaning they take effect immediately upon the governor's signature.

Remove outdated provisions within the insurance code.

South Dakota is cleaning up outdated language and requirements in its insurance regulations to modernize the state's insurance code. The bill updates financial reporting rules for insurers, removes an old provision about insurance guaranty associations, and simplifies outdated wording throughout the insurance statutes. These changes bring the state's insurance rules into line with current national standards and eliminate requirements that are no longer necessary.

Revise amounts for inspection fees for electrical installations.

South Dakota is increasing the maximum inspection fees that the State Electrical Commission can charge for various electrical installation projects. The changes raise fees for new residential installations (from $300 to $390), service connections (from $375 to $390), circuit installations (from $50 to $65), apartment buildings (from $50 to $150 per unit), and mobile home service (from $80 to $100 per unit).

Revise and repeal provisions related to the 911 emergency surcharge and the 911 Coordination Board.

SB37 changes when public safety answering points (911 call centers) must submit their annual reports to the state board—moving the deadline from July 31st to March 31st each year, and shifting the reporting period from July-to-July to January-to-December. The bill also repeals an expiration date that was set to end a previous 911-related law on July 1, 2026, effectively making that law permanent.

Specify the funds into which certain boat fees are deposited.

SB 46 directs boat registration fees collected by the state to be deposited into the parks and recreation fund instead of their previous destination. The bill also clarifies the registration process and documentation requirements for boat owners, and maintains criminal penalties for falsifying registration information.

Authorize the payment of lease rental obligations to the South Dakota Building Authority by the Bureau of Finance and Management, to make an appropriation therefore, and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota is appropriating nearly $53.7 million from its general fund to pay lease obligations that state agencies owe to the South Dakota Building Authority for three facilities: the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory ($36.6 million), the Precision Agriculture Building ($15.5 million), and statewide fish hatcheries ($1.6 million). The bill declares this an emergency matter, allowing the state to make these lease payments immediately.

Establish protections for state employees who report improper governmental conduct and crime.

This bill creates new legal protections for state employees who report crimes, misconduct, or conflicts of interest to their supervisors or appropriate authorities. State employees who make such reports in good faith will be protected from retaliation, discrimination, or adverse employment actions by their employers. The protections apply to reports made internally within state government or to law enforcement and other proper authorities.

Provide for the sale of certain real estate located in Pennington County and to provide for the deposit of the proceeds.

South Dakota is authorized to sell a 5.29-acre parcel of state-owned land in Rapid City, Pennington County, along with any buildings or personal property on it. The sale must be appraised by the Board of Appraisal and can proceed on whatever terms the Governor decides, with the money from the sale going into the federal surplus property fund.

Revise certain provisions related to capital improvements of state buildings.

This bill clarifies the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration's role in overseeing state building projects and updates the dollar thresholds that trigger oversight requirements. The changes modify language about which agency supervises construction projects and adjust the conditions under which a state building committee must be formed for larger capital improvement projects.

Update terminology related to ambulance operators.

South Dakota is updating the terminology used for ambulance personnel who operate emergency vehicles with blue lights. The bill replaces outdated terms like "ambulance driver" and "attendant" with the modern term "ambulance operator" throughout state law governing emergency vehicle equipment. This change standardizes the language while keeping the same rules about who can use blue lights and when they can use them.

Revise eligibility requirements for the crime victims' compensation program.

SB 96 expands eligibility for South Dakota's crime victims' compensation program by removing the requirement that victims be denied benefits if they engaged in conduct that contributed to their own injury or death—but this protection now applies to victims of sex offenses, human trafficking, domestic abuse, and child abuse, as well as minors and certain other protected groups. The bill also clarifies technical language in the existing statute without changing the one-year filing deadline or the requirement that crimes be reported to law enforcement within five days.

Update references in certain statutes to the 2024 standard building codes.

South Dakota is updating its building code standards by replacing references to the 2021 International Building Code with the 2024 edition in state law. This change applies to local government building ordinances for non-residential structures, ensuring they comply with the newer, current building standards published by the International Code Council. The update modernizes construction safety and design requirements across the state while preserving local governments' ability to modify the code for their own needs.

Update the membership of the Animal Industry Board to include a poultry producer.

South Dakota is expanding the Animal Industry Board from seven to eight members by adding a poultry producer seat. Board members must now include representatives from cattle, sheep, livestock feeding, hog production, livestock auctions, dairy, poultry, and veterinary medicine—giving poultry farmers a voice in state livestock policy for the first time.

Establish the Incarceration Task Force.

This bill creates a new Incarceration Task Force made up of 10 members—including corrections officers, wardens, legislators, and judicial representatives—to independently review how South Dakota builds and improves state prisons. The task force will examine prison construction projects, recommend funding adjustments, evaluate alternative building sites, and study ways to reduce repeat offenses, with the goal of creating a safer and more cost-effective prison system.

Amend requirements for an official newspaper.

South Dakota municipalities must designate an official newspaper for publishing legal notices, and this bill clarifies that the newspaper must meet requirements set out in state law (Chapter 17-2). The change allows municipalities to use newspapers published outside their borders if no local paper exists and the outside paper serves the community. The designation period remains at least twelve months, as determined by the municipality's governing body.

Reduce the amount of net receipts of unclaimed property deposited into the general fund.

Starting in fiscal year 2026, this bill caps how much money from unclaimed property can go into South Dakota's general fund, reducing that cap by $10 million each year until it reaches zero. Any unclaimed property revenue beyond the cap gets deposited into a new state trust fund instead, which will be used to return unclaimed property to owners and cover related administrative costs. This change gradually shifts unclaimed property money away from general state spending and toward a dedicated fund focused on returning the money to its rightful owners.

Include certain types of vehicles in the abandoned titling process.

Senate Bill 174 expands South Dakota's abandoned vehicle titling process to include boats, mopeds, off-road vehicles, and snowmobiles in addition to traditional automobiles and motorcycles. The bill updates the legal definition of "motor vehicle" to specifically list these additional vehicle types so they can be processed through the same abandoned titling procedures that currently apply to cars and trucks.

Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, establishing the trust for unclaimed property fund.

South Dakota voters would be asked to approve a new constitutional fund for unclaimed property—money that businesses or organizations hold but can't locate the rightful owners. The fund would keep unclaimed property deposits separate in a trust that grows over time, with only the interest and income (starting in 2027) flowing into the general state budget, while the main balance stays protected unless needed to pay claims or return property to owners.

Applying to the United States Congress for a convention of the states to propose amendments to the United States Constitution regarding the imposition of fiscal restraints on the federal government, further limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limiting the terms of office for members of Congress and other federal officials.

South Dakota is formally asking Congress to call a constitutional convention where states could propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution—specifically to limit federal spending, reduce federal power, and impose term limits on Congress members and other federal officials. This resolution does not change South Dakota law itself, but rather instructs the state to petition the federal government under Article V of the U.S. Constitution for this convention to occur.

Modify the requirement for payment of a private home study by the Department of Social Services.

This bill removes the requirement that people seeking to adopt a child pay for their own home study. Instead, the Department of Social Services must now cover the full cost of home studies from its state budget, though the Department can set limits on how much it will reimburse for each study.

Revise the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025.

This bill adjusts the budget allocations for fiscal year 2025 across several state agencies, including reducing federal funding for the coronavirus stimulus pool while increasing funding for employee compensation, state services, and information technology operations. The changes shift money between different funding sources (general funds, federal funds, and other funds) to cover increased costs in areas like central services, data centers, and telecommunications.

Make an appropriation for the restoration, maintenance, and repair of the state capitol.

South Dakota is allocating $5 million to restore, maintain, and repair the state capitol building, including its hallways, rotunda, legislative chambers, and historic artwork. The Bureau of Human Resources and Administration will manage the money, but any project must first be reviewed and approved by the Capitol Complex Restoration and Beautification Commission to ensure it protects the building's historic character.

Make an appropriation for the development of South Dakota.

HB1167 appropriates $100 from South Dakota's general fund to support economic development efforts in the state. The money will be distributed through the standard state voucher and warrant process, with any unused funds reverting back according to state procedures.

Revise provisions related to the identification of minors in certain public records.

This bill protects the privacy of minors and their relatives in public court records by requiring them to be identified only by generic labels (like "minor" or "relative") followed by numbers instead of their actual names. The bill also clarifies that sensitive financial and medical information filed with courts must be submitted on separate confidential forms that are kept from public view.

Provide the board of commissioners with authority over certain intra-county land uses and construction projects.

County commissions gain new authority to create rules for how infrastructure (like roads and utilities) can be built or operated within county rights-of-way when a development project crosses county lines. Before approving such projects, counties must notify affected cities and townships at least ten days in advance, and applicants must notify them upfront and submit proof of that notice with their application.

Applying to the United States Congress under Article V of the United States Constitution to call for a convention for proposing an amendment to the constitution establishing congressional term limits.

South Dakota is formally asking Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V for the purpose of proposing a federal amendment that would limit how many terms members of Congress can serve. This resolution doesn't change South Dakota state law itself, but rather expresses the state's official position that term limits for U.S. senators and representatives should be considered as a constitutional amendment.

Authorize the sale of real property in Spink County by the Department of Human Services and to declare an emergency.

The Department of Human Services is authorized to sell a specific parcel of land in Spink County and any buildings or equipment on it. Any money from the sale will go into the state's general fund after paying the costs of the sale. The bill declares an emergency so it takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature.

Expand the policy advisory committee for animal damage control.

South Dakota's animal damage control advisory committee will be expanded and reorganized to include representatives from eight specific organizations, including agricultural groups, landowner associations, and wildlife agencies. The bill replaces the previous list of member organizations with a more detailed numbered list that includes a new member—the South Dakota Landowner and Outfitter Alliance—while keeping the committee's basic function of reviewing animal damage control activities and making recommendations to the state.