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require notification of property owners prior to the establishment of a tax increment financing district.

Property owners must receive written notice at least ten days before a city or county establishes a tax increment financing district (TIF) in their area. The notice must inform them that their property falls within the proposed district and tell them when it will be officially created. This requirement gives property owners advance warning and time to respond before TIF districts take effect in their communities.

require publication of notices of gubernatorial appointments and reappointments.

Starting immediately, the Governor's office must publish a notice in the South Dakota Register whenever the Governor appoints or reappoints someone to a state board, commission, council, or similar entity. This new requirement ensures the public can see information about these appointments in the state's official publication.

require that corrected information be posted at least twenty-four hours prior to a meeting of a political subdivision.

When a political subdivision discovers a mistake in a posted meeting agenda or financial report, it must now post the corrected version at least 24 hours before the meeting at both its office and website. This new requirement ensures the public has accurate information well in advance of the meeting, rather than potentially seeing errors up until meeting time.

require financial interest statements from members of certain state authorities, boards, and commissions, and to provide a penalty therefor.

Members of state authorities, boards, and commissions must file annual financial disclosure statements with the secretary of state by January 31st, listing significant income sources, business interests, contracts with the state, and valuable real property holdings. Additionally, anyone being considered for appointment to these bodies must disclose the same financial information during the application or nomination process.

prohibit nondisclosure of certain agreements related to data centers.

State agencies and local governments in South Dakota are prohibited from signing confidentiality or nondisclosure agreements when they deal with private companies or individuals about building, developing, or locating data centers. Any data center agreements must be treated as public records that citizens can access. This ensures transparency in how public entities spend money and make decisions about major data infrastructure projects.

require the reporting of funding given by certain persons and governments to institutions under the control of the Board of Regents and the South Dakota Board of Technical Education.

This bill requires South Dakota's Board of Regents and Board of Technical Education to publicly report any funding they receive from foreign entities, governments, or individuals from six specific countries: China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. The reporting requirement applies to grants, donations, contracts, investments, and other forms of financial support, but excludes tuition payments from foreign students. This new transparency rule helps state officials and the public track foreign financial influence at public universities and technical schools in South Dakota.

require the disclosure of whether a ballot question was proposed by initiative or by the Legislature.

South Dakota voters will now see a clear label on their ballots indicating whether a proposed constitutional amendment or law change came from the state Legislature or from a citizen initiative. This change requires the Attorney General to include this disclosure statement alongside the existing ballot explanations, helping voters immediately understand the source of each ballot measure.

amend provisions pertaining to the tabulation of ballots and permit the release of any cast vote record and collection of ballot images produced by automatic tabulating equipment and to declare an emergency.

This bill updates South Dakota's voting equipment rules to clearly define "cast vote records" (electronic records of how each vote was tabulated) and "ballot images" (digital copies of paper ballots), and permits these records and images to be released from automatic tabulating machines. The changes allow election officials to access and share this technical data from voting equipment, which was previously unclear under state law. The bill declares this an emergency measure.

modify the requirements for open meeting agendas and provide a penalty therefor.

Public bodies in South Dakota must now describe proposed agenda items in enough detail to tell the public what business will actually be discussed at their meetings—not just list vague topic names. Anyone who violates this requirement can be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor.

clarify that an official open meeting agenda must be posted online at least seventy-two hours before the scheduled start of the meeting.

South Dakota state agencies must now post meeting agendas online at least 72 hours before meetings start (not counting weekends and holidays), in addition to posting them at their offices. The law clarifies that online posting is a required part of public notice, making it easier for citizens to find meeting information in one central location. Violating this requirement remains a Class 2 misdemeanor.

require that agencies promulgating permanent rules publish the rules and associated rulemaking forms on a state website.

State agencies must now publish all their permanent rules and related rulemaking forms on a single state website designated by the Governor, making it easier for the public to find and review regulations. This requirement changes existing law by adding a centralized online publication requirement to the process agencies already follow when creating, changing, or removing permanent rules.

revise provisions relating to state financial practices.

SB 73 updates South Dakota's financial record-keeping and transparency rules by requiring state agencies to file consulting contracts with the state auditor within five days and clarifying what counts as a "consulting contract" for reporting purposes. The bill also revises how long agencies must keep financial records—requiring original claims, invoices, and vouchers to be kept for at least seven years—and strengthens the state's searchable public records website by clarifying which agencies must jointly manage it.

require that all recorded votes of a legislator be displayed on the Legislative Research Council website.

South Dakota will require the Legislative Research Council to post each legislator's voting record on a public webpage, showing how they voted on every bill, resolution, and committee matter during legislative sessions starting July 1, 2026. The voting records must be easy to find on each legislator's profile page and also note when a legislator was absent or excused from a vote. This creates a new public transparency requirement that didn't exist before.

require the publication of the results of an election for precinct committeeman or committeewoman and to declare an emergency.

County auditors must now send information to the state about precinct committeeman and committeewoman candidates, election results, and unopposed candidates who were automatically elected. The Secretary of State will then publish all of this information on the state's website so the public can see who ran, who won, and who was elected without opposition.

require boards of county commissioners and county planning and zoning commissions to hold meetings after certain times or provide recordings of meetings to the public for later viewing.

This bill requires county commissioners and county planning and zoning commissions to either hold their weekday meetings at 6 p.m. or later, or provide free public recordings of the meetings online within 24 hours. The change makes it easier for working citizens to attend these meetings in person or watch them later, rather than being limited to daytime-only sessions.

modify requirements for public notice of a hearing prior to a vote to impose an excess tax levy.

South Dakota school districts and other taxing districts must now give property owners at least 21 days' notice before voting on an excess tax levy, using published notices, website postings, and direct mail or email to all property owners. The notice must specify the maximum amount being considered, the tax increase per $100,000 of property value, the hearing date and location, and how the money will be used, and districts must allow public comment at the hearing before voting.

amend provisions pertaining to the publication of the statewide voter registration file.

South Dakota will now publish its complete voter registration file online every Monday instead of at unspecified intervals, making the data more regularly available to the public. The state will also maintain a rolling five-year archive of these weekly voter registration files on the Secretary of State's website, free of charge, so citizens and election officials can access historical voter data.

require that the Department of Revenue provide an annual report to Indian tribes regarding certain tax collections.

South Dakota's Department of Revenue must now send annual reports to Indian tribes showing how much sales tax was collected from their territories, with separate counts for remote sellers (like online retailers) and in-person sellers. The department must also estimate tax collected from tribal members in nine specific counties and provide back reports for the years 2020-2025 by December 1, 2026.

update provisions pertaining to open records.

HB1092 updates South Dakota's public records exemptions by clarifying which types of records don't have to be disclosed to the public, including student information, medical records, trade secrets from research institutions, attorney work product, and law enforcement investigation records. The bill refines the existing exemption rules under state open records law to better define what qualifies as protected information and under what circumstances records can be withheld from public access.

require the sealing of court files upon dismissal or denial of a petition for a protection order.

When a court dismisses or denies a petition for a protection order in South Dakota, court files must now be sealed so the public cannot access them. If a petition is dismissed without a hearing, sealing happens automatically; if it's denied after a hearing, the judge must first find that the petition had no legal basis and was harassing or frivolous. Law enforcement must also be notified to make their records of the petition nonpublic.

provide for the disclosure of any third party that has a right to receive a payment contingent upon the outcome of a civil action.

In civil lawsuits, parties and their lawyers must now disclose to the court and other parties any third party (like a litigation funder or investor) who has a right to receive payment based on how the case turns out. They must provide this disclosure within ten days of signing such an agreement or when filing the lawsuit, whichever comes later, and must also share copies of any agreements creating these contingent payment rights.

establish a data collection system pertaining to assisted reproductive technology and to provide a penalty therefor.

South Dakota will require fertility clinics and other providers of assisted reproductive technology to report detailed data annually to the Department of Health, including information about embryos created, tested, implanted, and disposed of, as well as pregnancy and birth outcomes. This is a new requirement with no existing state law on the topic, meaning fertility providers must now track and submit this information to help the state monitor assisted reproductive technology practices.

modify the requirements for public notice of a hearing prior to a vote to impose an excess tax levy, and to modify requirements to refer an excess tax levy of a school district to a vote.

This bill requires South Dakota school districts to give property owners at least 21 days' notice before voting on an excess tax levy, with notices published in newspapers, on district websites, and mailed directly to property owners by the county. The notice must include the maximum tax increase amount, the standard levy limit, hearing details, the estimated tax impact per $100,000 of property value, and how the money will be used. School districts must reimburse counties for the costs of printing and mailing these notices to property owners.

require that a property tax bill provide access to a state website providing property tax information.

Property tax bills sent to South Dakota taxpayers must now include a QR code and website address that directs taxpayers to state information about property taxes and tax relief programs maintained by the Department of Revenue. The bill requires that tax bills notify taxpayers they can access additional tax information by scanning the QR code or visiting the provided internet address.

revise the requirements for executive sessions and closed meetings.

Senate Bill 47 revises the allowed reasons South Dakota public bodies can hold private executive sessions or closed meetings, expanding the list to include new protections for security vulnerabilities, emergency management plans, cybersecurity information, and building blueprints that could endanger public safety if disclosed. The bill also clarifies existing exceptions for discussing employee performance, student discipline, legal matters, and contract negotiations. These changes give public agencies clearer guidance on when sensitive discussions can happen behind closed doors without public attendance.

prohibit certain state officers or employees from being employed by an organization that was the recipient of a contract awarded on behalf of a state agency for a period of time.

SB93 strengthens South Dakota's ethics rules by prohibiting state officers and employees who approve or administer government contracts from working for companies that received those contracts for one year after leaving their state job. The bill expands the existing one-year "cooling off" period that already applied to new contracts with state agencies, now making it also apply to employment with organizations that won state contracts.

increase legislative oversight procedures and protections against conflicts of interest, and to provide a penalty therefor.

SB 155 strengthens the Government Operations and Audit Committee's investigative powers by allowing it to use civil discovery tools like depositions, written questions, and document requests—similar to what happens in court cases—and to enforce these tools through the court system if someone refuses to comply. The bill also adds penalties for anyone who knowingly or intentionally ignores these investigative demands, and creates new conflict-of-interest protections for legislators (though the specific details of those protections are not shown in this excerpt).

address prior authorization and reporting requirements by utilization review organizations and health carriers.

HB 1199 requires health insurance companies and utilization review organizations to track and annually report data on their prior authorization decisions to South Dakota's Division of Insurance, including how many requests they approved or denied and how quickly they made decisions. The Division of Insurance must then publish these reports publicly online within 60 days so patients and the public can see how insurance companies handle prior authorization requests for medical care.

update provisions related to the permit application process for proposed energy and transmission facilities.

SB 25 updates the rules for companies applying to build energy facilities and transmission lines in South Dakota by requiring them to notify nearby property owners earlier in the process and to post public notices within 30 days of filing their applications. The bill also clarifies that when the Public Utilities Commission reviews these applications, it must establish a local review committee that includes tribal council chairs, school board presidents, county commissioners, mayors, and a utility representative to give communities a voice in the permitting process.

amend the requirements for filing certain campaign finance disclosure statements.

SB142 updates South Dakota's campaign finance disclosure rules by specifying what types of statements candidates, political parties, and political action committees must file with the Secretary of State. The bill requires statewide and legislative candidates, county parties, and statewide PACs to submit pre-primary statements, pre-general statements, year-end statements, and any necessary amendments or supplemental reports.

amend provisions pertaining to the public availability of information contained in certain records.

HB1084 clarifies what voter registration records county auditors must keep publicly available and what information they can restrict from public view. The bill specifies that county auditors maintain a digital master file with voter registration details, election voting history, and absentee ballot application information, while establishing that certain sensitive information in these records can be kept confidential under specific exceptions listed in state law. This ensures voters' personal information is protected while keeping most registration records accessible to the public during normal office hours.

modify provisions of a report required by the Governor's Office of Economic Development on certain awards and grants.

This bill changes which legislative committees receive reports from the Governor's Office of Economic Development about state grants and awards. Instead of reporting to the Joint Committee on Appropriations on a biannual basis, the office will now report to the Government Operations and Audit Committee, the State Affairs Committees, and the Commerce and Energy Committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives twice each year.

prohibit members of the Board of Economic Development from having any interest in moneys from or approved by the Board of Economic Development.

This bill creates a new conflict-of-interest rule for members of the Board of Economic Development, prohibiting them from owning a stake in or serving on the board of any company or organization that receives money from the Board of Economic Development. The ban covers awards, disbursements, expenditures, and grants approved by the Board.

clarify application of the seventy-two hour notice requirement to website posting.

This bill clarifies that the 72-hour advance notice requirement for state board and commission meetings applies to website postings the same way it applies to physical office postings. The change specifies that the 72-hour countdown (which excludes weekends and legal holidays) begins when the agenda is posted on the state website, ensuring consistent notice timing across all posting methods.

revise provisions pertaining to open records.

SB 94 updates South Dakota's open records exemptions by clarifying the language used to describe which records don't have to be made public, such as student records, medical records, trade secrets, attorney work product, and law enforcement investigation files. The changes primarily involve rewording existing exemptions for grammatical clarity and consistency—for example, changing "such the records" to "the records" and "which that" to "which"—without substantially altering what information is protected from public disclosure.

require that social media companies provide collected personal data of a user at the user's request and maintain transparent interoperability interfaces.

South Dakota social media companies must now give users copies of all personal data collected about them when requested, and must maintain transparent systems that allow users' data to move between platforms. The bill amends the state's existing electronic transactions law to add these new requirements for how social media platforms handle user information and data portability.

provide for the publication of ballot images and the cast vote record of automatic tabulating equipment.

This bill confirms that ballot images and cast vote records from voting machines are public records, while adding restrictions on when counties can release them—they cannot publish records that show when a ballot was cast or contain unredacted personal information that could identify individual voters. The change protects voter privacy while maintaining transparency by allowing access to voting data that doesn't reveal how specific people voted or when they voted.

require that the Department of Health annually report on public health effects of cannabis use.

South Dakota's Department of Health must now submit an annual report to the legislature by March 1st documenting the medical cannabis program's financial activity, public health impacts, and detailed usage statistics. The report will track metrics like the number of patient applications, cannabis-related poisonings and hospitalizations, drug deaths involving cannabis, licensing violations, and demographic information about registered patients and healthcare providers involved in the program. This creates a new accountability requirement to monitor how the medical cannabis program affects public safety, health, and behavioral health services in the state.

require the review of a financing plan to establish a tax increment financing district.

This bill strengthens oversight of tax increment financing districts by requiring municipalities and counties to develop and have reviewed a detailed financing plan before establishing one of these districts. The new rules clarify what must be included in these plans—specifically how the local government intends to pay for project costs and what revenue sources it will use—and add the Department of Revenue's review as a required step in the process.

revise public notice requirements for new sand, gravel, and construction aggregate mines.

Sand, gravel, and construction aggregate mine operators must now follow stricter public notification rules before starting mining operations. For smaller mines (10 acres or less, or under 25,000 tons annually), operators publish notice once at least 14 days in advance; for larger operations, they must publish three notices over a six-month period starting 180 days before mining begins, and all notices must now include specific details like dust and noise mitigation plans and the proposed future use of the mined land.

require that counties provide written notice to township supervisors of conditional use applications and appeals.

Counties must now send written notice to township supervisors at least ten days before holding a public hearing on any conditional use application or appeal for property in that township. This gives township supervisors advance notice so they can participate in or prepare comments on land-use decisions affecting their areas.

repeal the medical marijuana oversight committee.

HB 1160 eliminates South Dakota's medical marijuana oversight committee, which currently includes legislators, medical professionals, law enforcement, and patient representatives who meet at least twice yearly to evaluate the state's medical marijuana program. This repeal removes the committee structure and its oversight responsibilities from state law.

establish a post-employment restriction for employees of the Governor's Office of Economic Development and create a penalty therefor.

Employees of the Governor's Office of Economic Development are now banned from working for or doing business with any company that received state economic development grants, loans, or other financial assistance from the office for five years after they leave their job. Violations of this restriction are classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, making it a criminal offense.

make certain federal laws applicable to public employees.

HB 1266 applies federal restrictions on political activity to South Dakota public employees, prohibiting them from using official authority to interfere with elections or accepting campaign contributions while at work or using state resources. The bill also strengthens existing revolving-door restrictions by clarifying that the highest-paid employee under an agency head cannot work as a lobbyist for two years after leaving state government, and it repeals a related provision.

authorize the recall of certain elected officials or individuals appointed to fill vacancies in certain offices.

This bill creates a new recall process allowing South Dakota voters to remove elected officials or people appointed to fill vacant offices if they gather signatures from at least 15 percent of registered voters in that official's jurisdiction and cite grounds such as crime, incompetency, or misconduct. The signatures must be collected within 60 days before filing the recall petition with the Secretary of State, and the bill does not apply to officials who can be impeached under the state constitution.

encouraging the state's congressional delegation to meet with the Legislature.

This concurrent resolution asks South Dakota's members of Congress to meet with the state Legislature at least once per year for discussions about federal issues and their work representing the state. The meetings would last at least one hour and be scheduled at a time that works for the congressional member, the House Speaker, and the Senate President. This is a request rather than a requirement and does not change existing law.

clarify when agency financial resource information must be filed in the permanent administrative rulemaking process.

This bill clarifies the timing requirements for when state agencies must submit financial resource information as part of the rulemaking process. Specifically, it ensures that agencies file this financial information at the same time they submit other required documents (like fiscal notes and small business impact statements) to the code counsel and Bureau of Finance and Management—at least twenty days before holding a public hearing on a proposed rule.

expand the information required to be sent to the prescription drug monitoring program for each registry identification card holder.

This bill requires the state to share additional information about medical cannabis cardholders with South Dakota's prescription drug monitoring program—specifically their name, address, date of birth, and registry identification card number. The change ensures that pharmacists and prescribers can see which patients have active cannabis registrations when reviewing their prescription histories.

provide additional legislative oversight of rulemaking.

SB 133 strengthens the Legislature's ability to oversee how state agencies create and enforce rules by expanding the definition of "major rules" that require additional legislative review and approval. The bill modifies the rulemaking process to give lawmakers greater control over agency decisions that significantly impact businesses and the public, and it repeals a provision that previously limited this oversight.

establish procedures for anti-SLAPP actions to protect the exercise of a person's constitutional rights, including freedom of speech.

South Dakota creates a new anti-SLAPP law that allows people to quickly dismiss lawsuits filed against them for protected speech activities, such as speaking at government meetings, discussing public issues, or exercising free speech rights on matters of public concern. The law does not apply to cases against government employees acting in their official capacity or to businesses being sued over communications related to their actual sale of goods or services. This protects citizens and organizations from expensive litigation designed to silence their public speech.

require that a state agency consult with the Aeronautics Commission prior to purchasing, transferring, or disposing of a state owned and operated aircraft.

State agencies must now consult with the South Dakota Aeronautics Commission before buying, selling, or getting rid of state-owned aircraft, and the commission must provide written advice to the governor and the requesting agency. This requirement doesn't apply to the Board of Regents, the Board of Technical Education, or their schools if they use the aircraft mainly for education. The law excludes small drones and unmanned aircraft from this consultation requirement.

revise the application requirements for special license plates and parking permits for individuals with disabilities.

South Dakota is expanding who can certify that someone has a disability qualifying them for special license plates and accessible parking permits—now allowing physician assistants, chiropractors, physical therapists, and certified nurse practitioners to sign off on applications, not just physicians. The bill also clarifies that parents or legal guardians can apply for these permits when they use their vehicle to transport a dependent with a substantial physical disability. Additionally, the state health secretary must create a formal definition of what counts as a "substantial physical disability" under this law.

make an appropriation for the purchase and distribution of food by a statewide distribution organization.

South Dakota will give $5 million to a statewide food distribution organization to buy and distribute food to food pantries across the state, with at least $1.5 million of that money required to go toward purchasing food from local South Dakota farmers and producers. The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources must report annually to a legislative committee on how the money is spent, what types of food are purchased, and which organizations receive the food. This is a new appropriation—it doesn't change existing law, but rather creates a one-time funding program effective June 30, 2026.

allow online access to verify registry status for organ donation.

This bill expands South Dakota's organ donor registry to allow people to verify their donor registration status online, in addition to the existing ability to register or update their information through the registry. The online verification feature will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making it easier for donors to confirm whether their wishes are properly recorded in the state system.

establish the South Dakota-tribal consultation commission.

South Dakota creates a new Tribal Consultation Commission to improve communication and cooperation between the state government and the nine federally recognized tribes in South Dakota. The commission will include representatives from each tribe, state officials, and legislative members, and will meet quarterly to discuss state initiatives and their potential effects on tribal communities.

amend the period of time before which ballots and other election materials may be destroyed following an election.

This bill extends the time election officials must keep ballots and other election materials before destroying them from 60 days to 22 months after an election. The longer retention period applies to all elections (federal, state, and local), giving more time for recounts, legal challenges, or audits to be completed. The bill also clarifies that municipal elections follow the same 22-month retention requirement as other elections.

create a digital registry identification card for medical cannabis patients.

HB 1211 creates a digital registry identification card system for medical cannabis patients in South Dakota, allowing them to prove their legal eligibility to possess and use medical cannabis. The bill updates the state's medical cannabis law to clarify the types of cards available (including cards that permit home cultivation) and defines key terms like what counts as an "allowable amount" of cannabis for cardholders. This digital card system would make it easier for patients to demonstrate compliance with state law when purchasing or possessing medical cannabis.

revise the list of mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect.

HB1216 adds people in "safety-sensitive positions" (as defined elsewhere in state law) to the list of professionals who must report suspected child abuse or neglect to authorities. The bill also clarifies that certain confidentiality protections cannot be used as an excuse to avoid reporting child abuse, making it easier for mandatory reporters to share information with authorities when they suspect a child is being harmed.

require the provision of interpreter or translator services for parties to an administrative contested case.

HB 1219 requires state agencies to provide and pay for interpreters or translators when a party or witness in an administrative case needs one to understand proceedings. The bill amends the rules for contested cases to explicitly allow parties to obtain these language services at no cost to them, with the agency covering the interpreter's compensation following the procedures outlined in the bill.

establish principles for a state agency to consider when formulating or implementing a program that has the potential of affecting tribal members on a reservation.

This bill requires South Dakota state agencies to follow five guiding principles when developing or running programs that could affect Native Americans living on reservations, including cooperating with tribal governments, respecting tribes as sovereign nations, communicating early and regularly with tribal officials, and being accountable for addressing tribal concerns. The law establishes a state policy of consulting with tribal governments but clarifies that it doesn't create any legal rights that people can enforce in court.

increase communication between agencies of this state and tribal governments.

South Dakota state agencies must now provide annual training to their employees on tribal legal status, tribal members' rights, and tribal concerns—delivered by instructors chosen by each Indian tribe. Additionally, the Governor and heads of state agencies must meet at least once yearly with tribal officials to discuss how state rules and policies affect tribes, and state agencies must report annually to the Governor on their tribal-related activities and any policy changes made as a result of these discussions.

revise the types of community-based providers for purposes of state funded services.

This bill expands the types of health care and social service providers eligible to receive state funding (including Medicaid and federal grants) by adding critical access hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers to the list of covered community-based providers. The bill also gives the secretaries of the Department of Social Services and Department of Human Services flexibility to add other provider types they deem appropriate without needing legislative approval.

adjust the assessment methodology for owner-occupied single-family dwellings and nonagricultural property.

HB 1253 changes how county assessors determine the fair market value of owner-occupied homes and non-agricultural property by requiring them to consider and document multiple valuation approaches (cost, market, and income methods) rather than using a single method. The bill also adds a new limitation on property assessments, though the bill text provided doesn't fully specify what that new limitation requires. These changes aim to create a more standardized and transparent assessment methodology across the state.

require the promulgation of rules related to accessing the capitol complex and providing electronic card access to capitol access pass holders.

South Dakota's human resources department must create rules governing public access to the Capitol building and grounds, including controlling building hours and regulating parking and traffic on Capitol grounds. The bill also requires the department to issue electronic access cards to Capitol pass holders that allow them to enter the building through any available outside entrance.

require that the Department of Revenue provide for an online application for property tax relief programs.

The Department of Revenue must now offer online applications for two property tax relief programs: one for people with paraplegia or loss of use of both lower extremities, and another for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Previously, applicants could only submit paper forms prescribed by the secretary of revenue, but they can now apply through a website maintained by the department. County treasurers will still help applicants complete forms upon request and handle any paper applications received.

prohibit certain political committees from accepting contributions by certain officers or employees of this state.

This bill prevents state employees in certain high-ranking positions from contributing money to the campaign committees or political action committees of their bosses in state government. Specifically, employees who are department heads, the highest-paid staff member in their department, or who report directly to a state official (like the Governor, Attorney General, or legislators) cannot make these contributions. The ban takes effect January 1, 2027.

provide for the study of statewide transit needs and the economic impacts of public transit, and to make an appropriation therefor.

South Dakota will fund a $125,000 study through the Department of Transportation to examine the state's public transit needs and whether public transit affects workforce availability, healthcare costs, and Medicaid spending. The department must complete the study and report its findings to the Legislative Research Council by November 30, 2026.

abolish the State Board of Elections.

This bill eliminates the State Board of Elections and transfers its election administration duties to the Secretary of State's office. The changes affect dozens of election-related laws covering voter registration, ballot procedures, campaign finance, and other electoral processes, all of which are being reorganized under the Secretary of State's direct control rather than an independent board.

encouraging the Executive Board of the Legislative Research Council to form an interim legislative committee to study the role and function of county boards of mental illness.

This resolution asks the Legislative Research Council to create a committee that will study how county boards of mental illness operate, including their authority over involuntary commitments and their role in reporting to federal background check systems. The committee will examine whether current laws governing voluntary and involuntary commitment processes are working effectively and how they could better connect with national criminal background checks. This is a study request only—it doesn't change any current laws but directs lawmakers to investigate potential improvements to the mental health commitment system.

safeguard the integrity, privacy, and security of genetic data and provide a civil penalty therefor.

South Dakota is creating new privacy protections for people who use direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies like ancestry or health DNA kits. The law requires these companies and their service providers to get clear written consent from consumers before collecting, using, or sharing their genetic information, and establishes civil penalties for violations.

require the use of certain geographic terminology in official materials of a state agency.

South Dakota state agencies must use the terms "Judea and Samaria," "Judea," or "Samaria" instead of "West Bank" in official government documents like rules, communications, and press releases. The requirement applies to all state agencies except college and university instructors' teaching and research materials. This is a new requirement with no existing law on this topic to change.

prohibit the use of automatic tabulating equipment and electronic ballot marking systems.

South Dakota would ban the use of automatic vote-counting machines and electronic ballot marking systems in all elections, requiring counties and the state to return to hand-counted paper ballots. The bill removes existing rules that allowed these machines and replaces them with a requirement that ballots be printed on paper and counted manually. This eliminates the electronic voting equipment currently used across the state.

clarify the rights to appeal and refer certain decisions of boards of county commissioners.

This bill clarifies the process county commissioners must follow when deciding whether to approve or reject proposed changes to zoning and land use rules. The bill specifies that if commissioners adopt a change, they must publish a notice of adoption in the county newspaper and the change takes effect 20 days later, while rejections are handled under a separate appeals process outlined in state law.

modify provisions related to the South Dakota Veterans Council.

SB132 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to consult with the South Dakota Veterans Council at least every two years about veterans' issues and allows the council to recommend changes to budgets, legislation, policies, and programs. The bill specifies that the council must include representatives from seven veterans organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and others serving veterans in South Dakota.

amend the period of time before which ballots and other election materials may be destroyed following an election.

SB176 changes how long South Dakota must keep ballots and election materials after elections by establishing a uniform 22-month retention period for all elections—municipal, school district, and nonfederal elections. Previously, the law had different retention periods for different types of elections, so this bill standardizes the timeline across all election types. After 22 months, election officials can destroy the ballots, pollbooks, and related materials, though federal election materials must still be kept for the full 22 months even if combined with state or local ballots.

codify the rights of a parent.

SB 190 creates a new law that establishes parental rights as a fundamental protection, preventing state agencies and local governments from restricting parents' ability to direct their children's upbringing, education, health care, and moral or religious training unless the government can prove it has a compelling reason to do so. The bill specifically lists parental rights including decisions about health care, access to medical and school records, choice of education, religious excuses from school, and participation in school organizations.

require a vote to approve the creation of certain tax increment financing districts.

SB207 requires cities, towns, and counties to hold a special election before creating a tax increment financing district if the project costs exceed $15 million. Currently, local governments can establish these districts through a governing body resolution alone, but this bill adds a voter approval requirement for larger projects. The bill also makes minor technical changes to how districts are formally created and named.

proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election, amendments to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, removing the lieutenant governor as presiding officer of the Senate.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would remove the lieutenant governor's role as president (presiding officer) of the South Dakota Senate, eliminating their limited voting power when senators are equally divided. The amendment would also repeal a constitutional rule preventing the lieutenant governor from participating in impeachment trials against the governor. If approved by voters at the next general election, these changes would significantly reduce the lieutenant governor's legislative duties and tie-breaking authority.

permit the board of a school district to require that certain students receive instruction in alternative settings.

School district boards can now assign students who engage in aggressive or violent behavior that disrupts school or threatens safety to receive instruction in alternative settings instead of regular classrooms. School districts must report annually to the Department of Education how many students were placed in alternative settings, though the state can only publicly share this data in anonymized and combined form across all districts.

create a taskforce to study the impact of artificial intelligence systems on the state.

This bill creates a new taskforce to study how artificial intelligence systems affect South Dakota across various sectors. The taskforce will include 16 members representing industries like healthcare, banking, retail, and technology, plus educators, local officials, and state leaders appointed by the governor, state Supreme Court, and Board of Regents.

provide for the participation of delegates from this state in an Article V convention, and to provide a penalty therefor.

This bill sets up rules for how South Dakota can participate in a federal constitutional convention (called an Article V convention) if enough states request one, including defining key terms like "delegates," "legislative instructions," and what counts as an unauthorized amendment. The bill establishes that South Dakota delegates must follow instructions from the state legislature and cannot vote on amendments outside the approved subject matter. These changes update South Dakota's existing laws about the state's role in any potential constitutional amendment process at the federal level.

protect persons from discrimination by financial institutions.

This bill creates a new law prohibiting South Dakota banks and large payment processors from denying or restricting financial services to customers based on their religious beliefs, free speech, lawful opinions, or participation in legal economic activities. The law applies to services like checking accounts, loans, credit cards, and money transfers offered by financial institutions that process over $100 billion in annual transactions. This protects customers from being cut off from banking services because of their political views, religious practices, or other First Amendment-protected activities.

authorize municipalities to establish a local funding mechanism for capital improvement projects.

South Dakota cities can now create a local funding mechanism for capital improvement projects by imposing a gross receipts tax of up to one percent on businesses within their borders. To implement this tax, a city must establish a five-member capital improvement board (made up of one city council member and four residents) that reviews and approves any ordinance establishing the tax, which must specify its purpose and minimum revenue target. This gives municipalities a new revenue option to fund infrastructure and other capital projects without needing state approval.

revise the process for requesting a veteran's certificate of discharge from a county register of deeds.

South Dakota now requires anyone requesting a certified copy of a veteran's discharge papers from a county register to fill out a form from the Department of Veterans Affairs that proves they're eligible to get it. The law specifies who can request these copies—including the veteran themselves, their family members, veterans service officers, and accredited veterans organizations—but adds a new verification step to ensure only authorized people access these documents.

clarify the procedure for petitioning a board of county commissioners for a change to the comprehensive plan or zoning ordinances.

This bill clarifies the process for submitting petitions to county commissioners requesting changes to comprehensive plans or zoning ordinances. It establishes that petitions must be filed with the county auditor, who then forwards them to a planning commission for a recommendation within 45 days (including a public hearing), after which the county board holds its own public hearing and makes a final decision. The bill essentially codifies the step-by-step procedure that petitioners and county officials must follow when requesting zoning or comprehensive plan changes.

revise certain provisions pertaining to municipal government.

SB165 makes extensive revisions to South Dakota's municipal government laws, affecting how cities handle mayor vacancies, council procedures, and various administrative processes. The bill clarifies succession rules when a mayor is temporarily absent or incapacitated (distinguishing this from a vacancy that requires appointment), streamlines procedures for filling vacant offices, and repeals outdated provisions while updating numerous other municipal governance sections. These changes modernize how South Dakota cities operate their day-to-day government functions.

proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, limiting the number of terms an individual may serve as a member of the Legislature.

This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit South Dakota legislators to serving eight consecutive years in either chamber (up to four two-year terms), with the restriction resetting if they serve in a different chamber. The change would also clarify that partial terms filled by appointment don't count toward the term limit. Voters would decide whether to approve this amendment in the next general election.

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 can propose amendments to limit federal spending, reduce federal power over states, and impose term limits on members of Congress and other federal officials. This resolution doesn't change South Dakota state law itself, but rather submits the state's official request to join other states in seeking this national convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution.

make an appropriation to implement the rural health transformation program, and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota receives $402 million in federal funding to support the rural health transformation program, which was authorized by federal law passed in July 2025. The Department of Health will manage these funds and must report quarterly to the state legislature on how the money is spent, with any unspent funds reverting back by October 2027.

authorize the transfer of certain surplus real property by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks to the Spearfish Canyon Foundation for a public purpose.

The Department of Game, Fish and Parks can now transfer a 3.75-acre parcel with an old hydroelectric plant to the Spearfish Canyon Foundation for use as a historic museum or another public purpose. The land reverts back to the state if the Foundation stops using it for public purposes for two consecutive years. This allows the state to hand over surplus property to a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving this historic site.

define man and woman throughout the state.

HB1184 adds legal definitions of "man" and "woman" throughout South Dakota law based on biological sex characteristics, specifically defining "female" as someone with a reproductive system that produces eggs and "male" as someone with a reproductive system that produces sperm. The bill updates multiple sections of state code to use these new definitions consistently across areas including vital records, adoption, and other legal matters. This change affects how the state recognizes sex designations in official documents and legal proceedings.

require the display of the state motto in public schools and provide for associated legal representation.

South Dakota public schools must now display the state motto "Under God the People Rule" on a plaque or other form at least 11 by 8.5 inches in size, positioned in a prominent location like an entryway or cafeteria. If a school district or its employees are sued over displaying this state motto (or the existing national motto), the state attorney general will provide free legal representation and cover all related costs, including any damages or attorney's fees owed.

modify provisions pertaining to the testing and use of automatic tabulating equipment.

This bill strengthens rules for voting machines used in South Dakota elections by explicitly prohibiting any voting equipment from connecting to the internet and preventing ballot-marking devices from saving or storing votes. The bill also requires the State Board of Elections to approve any changes or updates made to voting systems before they can be used in the state, adding an extra layer of oversight to protect election security.

encouraging the use of physical cash in transactions.

This concurrent resolution doesn't change any existing laws—instead, it expresses the South Dakota Legislature's encouragement for residents to use physical cash for purchases and for businesses to offer discounts for cash payments. The resolution cites benefits like privacy protection, lower transaction costs, and economic resilience as reasons for promoting cash use.

ensure uniformity in member identification provisions governing the South Dakota Retirement System.

This bill updates South Dakota's retirement system rules to ensure consistent identification requirements across different withdrawal and benefit situations. It adds an exception allowing married members to proceed with retirement benefit applications without their spouse's signature if they certify under penalty of perjury that they cannot locate their spouse or face exceptional circumstances—though they must then choose a specific benefit option (60% joint and survivor benefit) and provide supporting documentation.

revise the duties of the Transportation Commission to include responsibilities of the South Dakota Railroad Board and the South Dakota Aeronautics Commission.

SB 70 consolidates three state transportation bodies into one by transferring the duties of the South Dakota Railroad Board and the South Dakota Aeronautics Commission to the existing Transportation Commission. The Transportation Commission will grow from seven to nine members, with at least two members required to have railroad experience and at least two to have aviation experience. The bill eliminates the separate Railroad Board and Aeronautics Commission as independent entities while centralizing their responsibilities under the Department of Transportation.

provide for an automatic refund of an assessment on crops, livestock, and milk.

This bill creates an automatic refund process for assessments on crops, livestock, and milk, allowing growers to file a single electronic request before December 31st each year to automatically receive refunds for all assessments paid during the following year. Currently, growers must submit individual refund requests within 60 days of each assessment and provide documentation like invoices; the new system streamlines this by letting them opt in once annually instead. The bill applies this automatic refund option to assessments collected by the wheat, barley, corn, soybean, and dairy commissions.

make an appropriation to contract for a study on the length of service award programs for volunteers.

South Dakota will spend $100,000 to hire a contractor to study how to set up a length of service award program for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel, which allows these volunteers to save money tax-free for retirement. The contractor must deliver a report with recommendations to the Legislative Research Council by November 30, 2026. This is a one-time appropriation and does not change existing state law, but instead funds research to inform potential future policy decisions.

supporting the secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture in establishing a working group of nutrition experts to determine national standards for foods and beverages purchased with supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits.

This concurrent resolution doesn't change South Dakota state law—instead, it expresses the state's support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create a working group of nutrition experts that would set national standards for what foods can be bought with SNAP benefits (food stamps). South Dakota is urging the federal government to establish these nutrition standards based on the latest dietary science to help ensure SNAP money supports healthier eating choices.