The changes are primarily technical and procedural rather than substantive—the bill was reformatted from "Introduced" to "ENROLLED" status (the official final version after passage), line numbers were updated, and minor hyphenation was corrected ("large-8 scale" became "large-scale" and "cost-5 share" became "cost-share"). The resolution's core purpose—supporting federal authorization and participation in four major rural water supply projects in South Dakota—remains unchanged.
26.717.11 26.717.12 101st Legislative Session SCR607 2026 South Dakota Legislature Senate Concurrent Resolution 607 Introduced by: Senator Crabtree Underscores indicate new language. Overstrikes indicate deleted language. ENROLLED AN ACT A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION supporting congressional authorization for, and 1 federal participation in, major rural water supply projects identified by the 2 South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems. 3 WHEREAS, safe, reliable, and sustainable drinking water supplies are essential to public 4 health, economic development, agricultural productivity, and quality of life for the citizens of 5 South Dakota; and 6 WHEREAS, many regions of South Dakota face long-term water supply challenges that 7 cannot be addressed solely through local or municipal systems and instead require large-8 scale, large-scale, regional solutions; and 9 WHEREAS, the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems represents rural water 10 systems, municipalities, and regional water suppliers across this state, and has a long history 11 of working collaboratively with state and federal partners to advance responsible water 12 development; and 13 WHEREAS, in 2024 and 2025, the membership of the South Dakota Association of Rural 14 Water Systems formally adopted resolutions supporting the continued development, 15 authorization, and funding of several major regional water supply initiatives that address 16 documented water quantity and quality needs across multiple regions of this state; and 17 WHEREAS, South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems projects include the Dakota 18 Mainstem Regional Water System, which serves central and southern portions of eastern 19 South Dakota; the Western Dakota Regional Water System, which is addressing long-term 20 water deficits in western South Dakota; the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, which 21 includes the pursuit of congressional authorization for feasibility work related to a second 22 expansion to meet future demand; and the Water Investment in Northern South Dakota, 23 which supports municipal, rural, and industrial water needs in the northern region of eastern 24 South Dakota; and 25 26.717.11 26.717.12 2 SCR607 Underscores indicate new language. Overstrikes indicate deleted language. SCR607 ENROLLED WHEREAS, large-scale water supply projects typically require congressional authorization 1 and federal participation through the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of 2 Reclamation and other federal agencies before construction and full implementation can 3 proceed; and 4 WHEREAS, congressional authorization is a critical prerequisite to securing federal cost-5 share cost-share participation, advancing feasibility studies, and ensuring that projects can move forward 6 in a timely and cost-effective manner; and 7 WHEREAS, demonstrated alignment among local water providers, state leadership 8 through the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and South Dakota's 9 congressional delegation strengthens the state's position in competing for federal 10 authorization and appropriations; 11 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the One Hundred First Legislature 12 of the State of South Dakota, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that long-13 term, long-term, regional water supply planning is critical for South Dakota's future, particularly the 14 major rural and regional water supply projects identified in the resolutions adopted by the 15 South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems; and 16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that continued coordination is encouraged among local water 17 systems, the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems, the Department of Agriculture 18 and Natural Resources, and federal partners, to ensure these projects are developed in a 19 fiscally responsible manner that serves the long-term interests of the state and its citizens; 20 and 21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor 22 of South Dakota, the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the South Dakota 23 congressional delegation, the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of 24 Reclamation, and the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems. 25 26.717.12 3 SCR607 SCR607 ENROLLED Adopted by the Senate, February 2, 2026 Concurred in by the House of Representatives, February 25, 2026 _____________________ _____________________ Chris Karr Peggy Laurenz President Pro Tempore Secretary of the Senate of the Senate _____________________ _____________________ Jon Hansen Patricia Miller Speaker of the House Chief Clerk of the House