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amend provisions pertaining to the School Finance Accountability Board, and the process by which a recommendation of the board is approved.

This bill restructures the School Finance Accountability Board by clarifying its powers to reduce school funding, impose penalties on districts that don't follow budget rules, and waive those penalties if districts face special circumstances. The changes specify that the board can now require accreditation reviews and condition any funding waivers on the district meeting certain ongoing requirements. Overall, the bill gives the board more detailed authority to enforce school finance accountability while providing a clearer process for districts to request relief.

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.

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.

amend provisions related to changing rooms, sleeping quarters, and restrooms.

HB1161 requires state and local government buildings to designate multi-occupancy changing rooms, restrooms, and sleeping quarters for exclusive use by either females or males, with exceptions for firefighters and law enforcement acting in official capacity. The bill also clarifies that certain people—like parents with young children, people needing assistance, emergency responders, and maintenance workers—are exempt from restrictions on entering designated facilities. These changes establish clearer rules about who can use which facilities in government buildings.

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.

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.

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.

revise procurement for highway construction contracts.

This bill exempts highway construction contracts handled by the Department of Transportation from having to follow South Dakota's standard competitive bidding and procurement rules. It also exempts utility contracts that are bid alongside these highway projects from the same procurement requirements. The change simplifies the procurement process for highway projects by allowing the Department of Transportation to use its own contracting procedures instead of the state's general purchasing requirements.

revise certain requirements for contesting actions of the South Dakota Retirement System.

This bill extends the deadline for challenging South Dakota Retirement System decisions from 60 days to allow requests received by postmark to count as timely if mailed within the 60-day window, even if they arrive after that deadline. It also clarifies that if someone doesn't request a hearing within this timeframe, no court can later hear a lawsuit challenging the retirement system's order.

clarify statutes governing the administration of disability benefits by the South Dakota Retirement System.

SB 52 clarifies the process the South Dakota Retirement System uses to evaluate disability benefit applications by confirming that the executive director can request advice from a disability advisory committee, require medical exams or functional capacity assessments, and deny applications if members refuse these evaluations. The bill also specifies that disability benefits begin the month after a member stops contributing to the retirement system. These changes organize existing procedures into clearer written rules for how disability claims are handled.

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.

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.

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.

revise certain required minimum distribution provisions of the South Dakota Retirement System.

This bill updates how the South Dakota Retirement System distributes benefits to beneficiaries when a participant dies, aligning the rules with changes made by federal retirement law passed in 2019 and 2022. For deaths after December 31, 2021, beneficiaries now have up to ten years to receive the full account balance (instead of potentially longer), though spouses and certain other "eligible" beneficiaries get more flexibility in how they receive their distributions. The bill also clarifies that for deaths before 2022, surviving spouses can take distributions over their lifetime while other beneficiaries must receive a lump sum within five years.

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.

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.

clarify the effect of the resignation of certain gubernatorial appointees.

SB 146 clarifies what happens when someone resigns from a state board or commission appointed by the Governor. Under this bill, a resigned board member must continue serving until either the Governor appoints a replacement with Senate approval, the Governor makes an interim appointment, or a resignation date the person set in writing takes effect—whichever comes first.

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.

repeal the creation and budgeting for the Digital Dakota Network.

This bill eliminates the Digital Dakota Network by repealing the laws that created and funded it, removing six sections of state code related to the program. The bill keeps South Dakota's basic telecommunications infrastructure authority under the Commissioner of Information and Telecommunications but removes the specific provisions that governed the Digital Dakota Network's operation and budget.

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.

provide for indigent legal services by the Commission on Indigent Legal Services, and to provide an appropriation therefor.

This bill shifts responsibility for providing and paying for legal representation of poor people from individual counties and cities to a new state-level Commission on Indigent Legal Services. Instead of each county deciding how to handle indigent defense, the commission will now establish the system for providing lawyers to people who can't afford them and will pay the costs directly rather than leaving it to county budgets.

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.

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.

amend the reversion date for moneys appropriated to the Department of Education to improve and renovate the Cultural Heritage Center.

This bill extends the deadline for the Department of Education to spend money previously appropriated for improving and renovating the Cultural Heritage Center, moving the reversion date from an earlier deadline to June 30, 2028. Any funds not spent or committed by that new deadline will be returned to the state. The change allows the department more time to complete the renovation project before the money reverts.

remove the five percent calculation requirement from the county budgetary process.

This bill removes a five percent calculation requirement that counties previously had to apply when setting their budgets and tax levies. Counties will now calculate tax levies based directly on the difference between their budgeted expenses and expected revenue, without the mandatory five percent adjustment. The change simplifies the county budgetary process by eliminating an outdated calculation step.

direct the amendment of the Administrative Rules of South Dakota regarding the coursework required for high school graduation.

South Dakota's high school graduation requirements will be updated to use "credits" instead of "units" as the standard measurement for coursework, though the actual course requirements stay the same. The Board of Education Standards must file these administrative rule changes by September 30, 2026, affecting how schools track and report student progress toward graduation.

remove the requirement that counties remit to municipalities an amount equal to the road levy for calendar years 1984, 1985, and 1986.

This bill removes an old requirement that counties must pay municipalities an amount equal to the road taxes collected in 1984, 1985, and 1986. The change eliminates a decades-old obligation that is no longer practical or necessary for modern county-municipal financial relationships.

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.

revise the terms of county extension board members.

County extension board members will now serve staggered terms of one to three years instead of the previous fixed terms, with all terms expiring on January 10th each year. This change allows for more flexible appointment schedules while maintaining continuity on the five- or seven-member boards that oversee cooperative extension work in each county.

amend permissible uses of a school district's capital outlay fund.

School districts can now use their capital outlay funds (money saved for long-term investments) to purchase or lease equipment, which was not explicitly allowed before. The bill also clarifies other existing permitted uses like buying warranties on capital assets and textbooks, and maintains the rule that purchases under $1,000 can come from the general fund instead.

revise provisions pertaining to requirements for students receiving alternative instruction.

This bill changes who must take state academic tests in South Dakota schools by requiring students receiving alternative instruction (like homeschooling) to take the same assessments if they live in a school district, whereas previously these requirements may have been unclear or different. The bill also repeals an outdated provision and updates related rules about alternative instruction programs. Overall, it establishes clearer standards for testing all students regardless of their educational setting, as long as they reside within a district.

classify 911 telecommunicators as Class B members of the South Dakota Retirement System.

This bill moves 911 telecommunicators (the people who answer emergency calls) into Class B of the South Dakota Retirement System, which likely provides them with different retirement benefits than their current classification. The change amends the state retirement law to officially recognize 911 telecommunicators as a distinct group eligible for Class B membership benefits.

replace the index used to calculate the salaries of members of the Legislature.

This bill changes how South Dakota legislators' salaries are calculated by replacing the current index with a new formula based on the state median household income reported by the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Instead of the previous calculation method, each legislator's base salary will now equal 22 percent of South Dakota's median household income, adjusted annually each January. The bill keeps all other compensation the same, including mileage reimbursement and per diem allowances.

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.

authorize boards of county commissioners to adopt policies for investigating allegations of misconduct of county departments, employees, and officers.

County commissioners can now adopt written policies for investigating misconduct by county employees and officials, including abuse of authority, conflicts of interest, and neglect of duties. Any investigation policy must include an investigator from outside the department being investigated, establish confidentiality and fairness rules, and follow the state's removal procedures for county officers.

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.

eliminate the Agricultural Land Assessment Implementation and Oversight Advisory Task Force, and to provide that the Department of Revenue receive the submission of recommendations and provide a report on agricultural value.

South Dakota is eliminating the Agricultural Land Assessment Implementation and Oversight Advisory Task Force and shifting its duties to the Department of Revenue, which will now directly receive recommendations and report on agricultural land values instead of relying on a separate advisory committee. The Department of Revenue will continue to set rules for how agricultural land is valued, including procedures for determining income values based on eight-year crop data averages.

encouraging the Executive Board of the Legislative Research Council to form an interim Neurohealth Safety Committee to study and assess the regulatory framework under which vapor product retail establishments operate.

This resolution asks the Legislative Research Council to create a temporary committee to study how vapor product stores are currently regulated in South Dakota. The committee would examine unclear rules around fees, inspections, and compliance to determine whether the regulations need to be changed or clarified.

amend the process by which moneys are distributed from the employer's investment in South Dakota's future fund.

This bill clarifies how money from South Dakota's employer investment fund can be loaned or granted out for research and economic development projects. It requires the Governor's Office of Economic Development to write detailed rules covering how businesses and organizations apply for these loans and grants, how the state evaluates their economic impact, and what terms apply to the loans.

increase reinstatement fees and abstract driver record fees.

South Dakota is raising the fees that people must pay to reinstate a suspended driver's license and the fees charged for obtaining copies of driving records. The bill increases both the reinstatement fee (which suspended drivers pay to get their license back) and the abstract fee (which people pay to request a copy of their driving history).

create the Developmental Disability Service Delivery Committee.

South Dakota is creating a new nine-member Developmental Disability Service Delivery Committee to review and improve the state's Medicaid waiver programs that provide home and community services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The committee will examine how providers are reviewed and accredited, gather feedback from people with disabilities and their families, and recommend changes to make the system more efficient and less burdensome for service providers. This is a new committee with no changes to existing law—it establishes a formal way to evaluate and improve disability services going forward.

amend provisions pertaining to conducting a municipal or school district election and to declare an emergency.

This bill updates South Dakota's rules for municipal and school district elections, clarifying key definitions and voter eligibility requirements. Specifically, it defines "in conjunction with" and "combined with" for election timing and responsibilities, and changes voter residency rules to specify that municipal voters must live in the municipality, attend school there, or be military personnel stationed there. The bill also makes technical updates to election administration procedures across multiple sections of state law.

extend the time for reverting moneys appropriated for the modernization of the state's enterprise resource planning systems.

South Dakota is pushing back the deadline for returning unspent money from a 2023 appropriation for modernizing the state's computer systems from an earlier date to June 30, 2029. This gives the state more time to complete the project before any leftover funds have to be returned to the general fund.

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.

create the capitol restoration fund and to transfer moneys thereto.

This bill creates a new Capitol Restoration Fund dedicated to fixing up and improving the state capitol building, which will be managed by the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration. The state will transfer $1.1 million from the existing Public Buildings Fund into this new fund, and any future spending from it requires a special vote by the Legislature.

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).

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.

modify the administration of the South Dakota-Ireland trade fund.

SB197 restructures the South Dakota-Ireland Trade Commission by changing how its members are appointed—adding a representative from a private international trade association and redistributing industry representative positions between the Senate president pro tempore and House speaker. The bill also clarifies that the Executive Board of the Legislative Research Council will handle both administrative services and management of the trade fund that pays for the commission's work.

revise registration fees for drones and establish a fund to support drone aviation.

South Dakota will now charge separate registration fees specifically for drones instead of treating them like other aircraft, with the new drone fee structure detailed in a new section of law. The changes also clarify that the existing 4% aircraft registration tax no longer applies to drones, and that civil penalties from late drone registration payments will go into the state's aeronautics fund to support drone aviation.

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.

revise provisions related to serving a subpoena in a contested case.

This bill clarifies and expands the rules for serving subpoenas in contested case proceedings before state agencies, making it easier for parties and their attorneys to compel witnesses to testify and produce evidence. The changes modify how subpoenas must be served and align the process with South Dakota's civil court procedures. These revisions ensure that all parties in agency hearings have a fair opportunity to gather the evidence they need for their cases.

authorize the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources to dismantle and demolish buildings on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency.

The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources can now tear down and remove the barns at Livestock Avenue and Market Street and the Quonset huts on Lincoln Avenue South at the South Dakota State Fairgrounds in Huron. The state is providing $337,000 to pay for demolition, debris removal, and ground repairs at these locations.

allow the Public Utilities Commission to assess actual costs to data centers that are customers of public utilities.

The Public Utilities Commission can now charge large data centers (those using 10 megawatts or more of power) for the actual costs of reviewing their electricity service contracts with utilities. Any fees collected go into a state fund rather than reducing costs for other utility customers.

authorize the Department of Corrections to demolish the Pierre Minimum Center, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency.

The Department of Corrections is authorized to tear down the Pierre Minimum Center facility and clean up the site, including removing hazardous materials and returning the land to grade level. The state is appropriating $682,825 from the general fund to pay for this demolition and site restoration work.

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.

revise provisions relating to the use of the livestock disease emergency fund.

South Dakota farmers and livestock producers will see changes to how emergency disease funds are managed and accessed. The bill clarifies that the livestock disease emergency fund can only be used when the Governor declares an emergency and authorizes its use for controlling livestock diseases, and it removes an outdated section of law related to these funds. These changes streamline the process for accessing emergency funds during animal disease outbreaks while maintaining state oversight of the money.

reschedule the date for filing certain annual reports.

This bill allows most South Dakota businesses and organizations to choose between two annual report filing deadlines: either on the anniversary month of when they were formed, or by January 31st each year. Companies that are already in good standing can switch between these two filing dates by submitting a form to the Secretary of State, giving them more flexibility in managing their reporting obligations.

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.

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.

appropriate money for the ordinary expenses of the legislative, judicial, and executive departments of the state, the current expenses of state institutions, interest on the public debt, and common schools.

This bill sets state spending levels for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026 through June 2027) across all major state departments, institutions, and schools, including the legislature, courts, governor's office, and public education. The appropriation amounts shown—such as $3 million for the Governor's Office and $74 million for Economic Development—represent the total money each agency can spend during that year. No specific changes to existing law are detailed in this excerpt; it's primarily a funding authorization bill that maintains current operations.

permit the state to invest in Bitcoin.

South Dakota currently limits state investments to traditional securities like government bonds, corporate bonds, and bank deposits—this bill adds Bitcoin to the list of allowable investments for state public funds. The change permits the state treasurer and other officials managing public money to invest a portion of state funds directly in cryptocurrency, making South Dakota one of the first states to officially authorize Bitcoin holdings for its treasury.

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 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.

require that the Department of Education provide for the compensation of a teacher employed by a school district.

This bill shifts teacher pay from individual school districts to the state Department of Education, which will now use state general appropriation money to pay teachers' salaries and benefits based on a standardized schedule set by the Board of Education Standards. School districts can no longer set teacher compensation independently but are limited to hiring only a certain number of teachers based on a state-established target ratio. The bill repeals several existing provisions related to local teacher compensation decisions and replaces them with a statewide salary system that accounts for teacher certification demand, education level, and experience.

require that a snow bear be titled and licensed.

South Dakota law will now require that snow bears be titled and licensed like motor vehicles, subjecting them to the same registration and titling requirements that currently apply to cars and trucks. The bill amends several sections of South Dakota's vehicle code to include snow bears in the definition of vehicles that must be registered with the Department of Revenue. This means snow bear owners will need to obtain a title and license for their vehicles before operating them on South Dakota roads or property.

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 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.

authorize the assumption of certain responsibilities and the waiver of sovereign immunity in connection with certain actions under federal environmental law.

South Dakota's Department of Transportation may now take over certain federal environmental review responsibilities for highway projects from the federal government under federal law. By doing so, the state waives its legal immunity from being sued in federal court over how it handles these environmental duties. The state also agrees to pay any damages, attorney fees, and court costs if it loses a lawsuit related to these environmental responsibilities, using money from the state highway fund.

transfer moneys to the general fund from the budget reserve fund and the general revenue replacement fund, and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota will move a combined $101.5 million from two reserve funds—$80.9 million from the budget reserve fund and $20.6 million from the general revenue replacement fund—into the general fund to help pay for state government operations. The bill declares this transfer an emergency so it takes effect immediately rather than waiting for the normal effective date. This reduces the state's financial reserves to provide money for current spending needs.

revise the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026.

This bill adjusts spending amounts in South Dakota's budget for fiscal year 2026 by increasing or redirecting funds to various state agencies and programs. The changes include boosting funding for economic development, state employee compensation, building maintenance and repairs, and information technology services, with increases coming from general funds, federal funds, and other revenue sources.

provide for the licensing of property data collectors and the registration of property data collection companies and to provide a penalty therefor.

South Dakota will create a new licensing system for property data collectors (individuals who inspect properties and prepare reports for real estate financial transactions) and require companies that hire them to register with the Department of Labor and Regulation. This establishes state oversight of a profession that currently has no licensing requirements, distinguishing it from real estate appraisal. The bill also sets penalties for violations of these new licensing and registration rules.

revise provisions related to the practice of addiction counseling and prevention services.

HB 1029 reorganizes South Dakota's regulation of addiction counselors and prevention specialists by clarifying the Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals' role in licensing, certifying, and disciplining these professionals. The bill expands the list of professional titles regulated under state law to include peer support specialists and various trainee and supervisee positions, and adds a new requirement that the board ensure practitioner competency and public safety. Key changes include streamlined examination requirements tied to national standards and updated disciplinary procedures for practitioners who violate professional standards.

establish a ten-year boat registration for owners of certain boats.

South Dakota boat owners whose boats are transported exclusively on a registered trailer can now choose a ten-year registration option instead of renewing annually, as long as they provide proof of trailer registration and submit an affidavit confirming the boat is only transported by trailer. Under current law, all boat registrations expire annually; this bill creates a new ten-year registration period that can be renewed for successive ten-year periods if the owner remains eligible. Boat owners choosing this option will only pay registration fees when applying for or renewing the ten-year registration, rather than annually.

require that the secretary of the Department of Education apply to the United States Department of Education for the authority to develop and implement an innovative assessment system.

South Dakota's Department of Education secretary must apply to the federal government for permission to create a new student assessment system that replaces or supplements current state tests. If approved, the state will develop a testing system that measures reading and math growth while emphasizing science-based reading instruction and foundational math skills, working with school leaders, teachers, and parents to design it.

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.

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.

create the community-based providers methodology supplement fund, create the target teacher salary supplement fund, and provide for the transfer of certain unobligated cash balances to the fund.

This bill creates two new dedicated funds: one to increase teacher salaries and another to boost payment rates for community-based healthcare providers. Money for these funds will come from transferring unobligated cash balances from other state accounts, with the funds administered by the Department of Education and Department of Human Services respectively. The bill repeals an existing section and modifies budget-related laws to establish these new funding mechanisms.

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.

revise certain mining statutes.

HB1273 reorganizes the definitions section of South Dakota's mining laws by renumbering and clarifying key terms used in mining regulations, such as "abandoned mined lands," "affected land," "aquifer," and geographic references to the Black Hills. The bill also updates references to state agencies, changing "Department of Environment and Natural Resources" to "Department of Environment Agriculture and Natural Resources." These are technical revisions that streamline the existing mining statute without changing the core rules about mining operations themselves.

permit technical college employees to join the state health plan.

This bill allows employees of South Dakota's technical colleges to join the state health plan, which was previously available only to other state employees. Technical colleges that choose to participate must contribute to the plan on behalf of their employees at least as much as the state contributes for other state workers, and the specific terms are negotiated between each technical college and the state human resources commissioner.

amend the process by which moneys are distributed from the employer's investment in South Dakota's future fund.

This bill expands how money from South Dakota's employer investment fund can be used by allowing grants for research, economic development, scholarships, workforce training, and infrastructure projects. The bill changes the process for distributing these funds and adds new rules about which organizations and programs can receive the money, including public schools, universities, apprenticeship programs, and technical education providers.

amend provisions pertaining to calculating local effort and state aid for general education.

HB 1290 modifies how South Dakota calculates school districts' funding by changing the rules for counting students (fall enrollment) that determines state education aid, including clarifying how to count students in state agency care and adjusting the teacher ratio factors used in funding formulas. The bill specifically revises the definitions and procedures in state law that schools and the Department of Education use to determine which students count toward a district's enrollment number for state aid distribution purposes.

restrict ownership of real property interests by certain prohibited entities and to provide for enforcement.

This bill prohibits certain foreign entities (as defined in existing South Dakota law) from owning or controlling land or property interests in South Dakota while military installations exist in the state. Entities that already own such property must sell it within two to three years depending on how they acquired it. The bill creates a new enforcement mechanism to prevent foreign entities from directly or indirectly holding stakes in South Dakota real estate through corporate ownership or other indirect means.

establish the state office of apprenticeship within the Department of Labor and Regulation.

South Dakota creates a new state office of apprenticeship within the Department of Labor and Regulation to oversee and approve apprenticeship programs in the state. The bill establishes definitions and standards for apprenticeships, apprentices, and apprenticeship agreements that align with federal regulations, covering jobs that involve structured on-the-job training combined with related instruction. This new office will manage the registration and approval of apprenticeship programs across various industries.

authorize purchasing agency verification and monitoring of workers' compensation insurance coverage obtained by public improvement contractors.

Government agencies that hire contractors for public improvement projects can now require contracts to include a provision letting the agency verify the contractor has workers' compensation insurance before work begins and monitor that coverage throughout the project. The agency can request documentation of insurance payments, lists of subcontractors, employee payroll records, and other information needed to prevent workers' compensation fraud.

modify requirements to create a tax increment financing district.

This bill modifies the rules for creating and operating tax increment financing (TIF) districts in South Dakota by updating definitions and requirements in state law. The changes affect how political subdivisions like cities and counties can establish these special districts, which use future property tax increases in a designated area to fund development projects. Key modifications include refined definitions of planning requirements, financing methods, and the process for creating and managing these districts.

cause the repeal of the medical cannabis chapter upon the federal re-scheduling of cannabis.

If the federal government reclassifies cannabis as a Schedule III drug, this bill would automatically repeal South Dakota's entire medical cannabis program 90 days after the state Attorney General confirms the change. The Department of Health would be required to notify all medical cannabis cardholders and businesses of the repeal date.

amend the state aid formula for general education and for special education.

Senate Bill 200 updates how South Dakota calculates state funding for schools by modifying the formulas used to determine general and special education aid. The bill changes how student enrollment is counted—specifically including nonresident students in state custody and adjusting which tuition costs are subtracted from enrollment numbers—which affects how much money each school district receives from the state. These changes apply to multiple sections of education funding law that determine baseline aid, adjustments, and special education support across school districts.

create the county and township infrastructure fund for the accounting, safekeeping, and allocation of unobligated rural access infrastructure fund moneys.

This bill creates a new state fund to collect unused rural infrastructure money from counties every three years and redistribute it back to counties that need it. Currently, counties can only use rural access infrastructure funds for specific road and bridge projects, and this bill requires them to send any unspent money to the state instead of keeping it. The Department of Revenue will manage this statewide fund and distribute the collected money to counties based on a formula in existing law.

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.

require the acceptance of cash as payment in certain transactions.

South Dakota businesses must accept cash for in-person purchases of $100 or less, and cannot charge customers a higher price for paying with cash instead of cards. The requirement doesn't apply to banks, credit unions, airlines, or transactions requiring a credit card for security deposits or potential damages. The state and local governments must also accept cash as payment.

amend the process by which certain school districts calculate the general fund base percentage.

HB1131 modifies how South Dakota school districts calculate their general fund base percentage by updating the definition of "fall enrollment" used in education funding formulas. The bill clarifies that nonresident students in state agency care (such as those under the Department of Social Services or Department of Corrections) can be counted in a district's fall enrollment, and it adjusts which students are excluded when subtracting tuition-receiving students from the enrollment count. These changes affect how much state education funding certain school districts receive.

establish basic and advanced esthetics licenses, and to revise the licensure chapter for cosmetology, nail technology, and esthetics.

South Dakota is splitting the esthetics license into two separate credentials—a basic esthetics license and an advanced esthetics license—to create different qualification levels for skin care professionals. The bill comprehensively revises the cosmetology licensing chapter to define these new license types, set their requirements, and update related rules for salons, apprenticeships, and professional standards. This restructuring replaces several outdated provisions while maintaining the overall regulatory framework for cosmetology, nail technology, and esthetics professionals.

prohibit weather and climate modification activities and provide a penalty therefor.

This bill creates a new law prohibiting people from releasing chemicals or substances into the atmosphere with the intent to modify weather, climate, or sunlight intensity. Violators would face civil penalties, with the collected fines split between the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (for monitoring and enforcement) and the Department of Transportation (for related administrative costs). The bill establishes a special fund to pay for monitoring, investigating complaints, and ensuring compliance with the weather modification ban.

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.

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.

amend provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

HB1248 clarifies which state's laws apply to securities transactions by specifying that South Dakota law governs security entitlements handled through securities intermediaries (like brokers or banks), rather than leaving it to the intermediary's home jurisdiction. The bill also keeps existing rules for direct securities issued by companies and for physical security certificates. This change makes it clearer and more predictable for South Dakota residents and businesses dealing with securities held through intermediaries.

amend the process for calculating a school district's general fund base percentage.

HB 1291 modifies how South Dakota calculates the "general fund base percentage" used to determine school funding by changing the definition of "fall enrollment" — the student count that triggers state aid calculations. Specifically, the bill clarifies that nonresident students in state agency care (such as those under Department of Social Services custody) are included in fall enrollment counts, and adjusts which students are subtracted or added when computing a district's funding base.