Changes to Existing Law

26.281.9 26.281.10 101st Legislative Session 131 2026 South Dakota Legislature Senate Bill 131 HOUSE MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS ENGROSSED Introduced by: Senator Zikmund Underscores indicate new language. Overstrikes indicate deleted language. An Act to revise the season in which a nonprofit organization may host a special 1 pheasant hunt for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: 3 Section 1. That § 41-11-5.5 be AMENDED: 4 41-11-5.5. Any A nonprofit organization may establish host a special pheasant 5 hunt in which disabled veterans or and Purple Heart recipients of the United States Armed 6 Forces of the armed forces of the United States may participate. The special pheasant 7 hunt may be held before or during the regular pheasant during the private shooting 8 preserve season, pursuant to § 41-10-11. No fee may be charged to participants in any 9 such special pheasant the hunt, by either the state or the sponsoring organization. 10 The Game, Fish and Parks Commission shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 11 1-26, to administer the special pheasant hunts authorized in this section. 12 For the purposes of this section a disabled veteran is a person who meets one of 13 the following criteria "disabled veteran" means an individual who is: criteria: 14 (1) A resident or nonresident veteran of the armed forces of the United States whohas: 15 (a) Has who has been adjudicated by the United States 15 Department of Veterans Affairs 16 as being twenty percent or more disabled due to a 16 service-connected 17 disability or has received the United States Department of 17 Veterans Affairs 18 K Award; or 19 (b) Is designated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to 20 receive Special Monthly Compensation Level K pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114 21 (January 1, 2026); or 22 18 (2) A resident of this state who has served on active duty in the armed forces of the 23 United States 19 or has served as a member of the armed forces reserve or national 24 guard, and the 20 resident is forty percent or more disabled for the purposes of 25 receiving social 21 security benefits 22 For the purposes of this section, "disabled veteran" means a veteran of the armed 23 forces of the United States who: 24 (1) Has been adjudicated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being 25 twenty percent or more disabled due to a service-connected disability; or 26 26.281.9 26.281.10 2 131 Underscores indicate new language. Overstrikes indicate deleted language. (2) Is designated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being forty percent or more disabled, and has to receive 1 received an honorable discharge from: Special Monthly Compensation Level K pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (January 1, 2 (a) Active duty in the armed forces of the United States; 2026). 3 (b) The reserve component of the armed forces of the United States; or 4 (c) The South Dakota National Guard. 5

26.281.10 26.281.11 101st Legislative Session 131 2026 South Dakota Legislature Senate Bill 131 HOUSE MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS ENGROSSED Introduced by: Senator Zikmund Underscores indicate new language. Overstrikes indicate deleted language. ENROLLED AN ACT ENTITLED An Act to revise the season in which a nonprofit organization may host a special 1 pheasant hunt for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: 3 Section 1. That § 41-11-5.5 be AMENDED: 4 41-11-5.5. Any A nonprofit organization may establish host a special pheasant 5 hunt in which disabled veterans or and Purple Heart recipients of the United States Armed 6 Forces of the armed forces of the United States may participate. The special pheasant 7 hunt may be held before or during the regular pheasant during the private shooting 8 preserve season, pursuant to § 41-10-11. No fee may be charged to participants in any 9 such special pheasant the hunt, by either the state or the sponsoring organization. 10 The Game, Fish and Parks Commission shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 11 1-26, to administer the special pheasant hunts authorized in this section. 12 For the purposes of this section a disabled veteran is a person who meets one of 13 the following criteria: 14 (1) A resident or nonresident veteran who has been adjudicated by the United States 15 Department of Veterans Affairs as twenty percent or more disabled due to a 16 service-connected disability or has received the United States Department of 17 Veterans Affairs K Award; or 18 (2) A resident who has served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States 19 or has served as a member of the armed forces reserve or national guard, and the 20 resident is forty percent or more disabled for the purposes of receiving social 21 security benefits 22 For the purposes of this section, "disabled veteran" means a veteran of the armed 23 forces of the United States who: 24 (1) Has been adjudicated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being 25 twenty percent or more disabled due to a service-connected disability; or 26 26.281.10 2 131 Underscores indicate new language. Overstrikes indicate deleted language. (2) Is designated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to receive 1 Special Monthly Compensation Level K pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (January 1, 2026). 26.281.11 2 2026). 3 131 SB131 ENROLLED An Act to revise the season in which a nonprofit organization may host a special pheasant hunt for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients. I certify that the attached Act originated in the: Senate as Bill No. 131 Secretary of the Senate President of the Senate Attest: Secretary of the Senate Speaker of the House Attest: Chief Clerk of the House Senate Bill No. 131 File No. ____ Chapter No. ______ Received at this Executive Office this _____ day of _____________, 2026 at ____________M. By for the Governor The attached Act is hereby approved this ________ day of ______________, A.D., 2026 Governor STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, ss. Office of the Secretary of State Filed ____________, 2026 at _________ o'clock __M. Secretary of State By Asst. Secretary of State