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modify requirements regarding the use of a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle.

South Dakota's ban on using mobile electronic devices while driving now clarifies what counts as an emergency exception—specifically allowing drivers to use their phones to text 911, call emergency services, report fires or accidents, report unsafe drivers, or report crimes. The law also clarifies that using GPS or navigation features is permitted as long as the driver isn't manually entering information while driving. These changes refine the existing ban to make clear which specific emergency and navigation uses are legal.

increase the amounts required in a motor vehicle liability policy.

South Dakota's minimum car insurance requirements are increasing under this bill. Vehicle owners must now carry liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury or death (up from $25,000 and $50,000), and $50,000 for property damage (up from $25,000).

modify requirements for ambulance operators.

This bill changes the rules for who can use blue lights on ambulances and when they're allowed to exceed speed limits during emergencies. Ambulance operators must now meet new requirements (detailed in a new section added by this bill) to use blue lights and respond to emergency calls with special driving privileges. The bill also clarifies that these emergency vehicle exceptions apply only when the ambulance operator is actually en route to an emergency and has proper authorization.

increase civil penalties for commercial driver violations.

HB 1050 increases civil penalties that employers and commercial drivers must pay for violations related to hiring drivers with suspended licenses, violating out-of-service orders, and other commercial driver violations. The penalty increases are modest—ranging from $2 to $3 increases on individual penalties and $2 to $4 increases on employer penalties—reflecting adjustments to keep penalties current with inflation or regulatory updates.

revise the conditions for denial or restriction of a motor vehicle or motorcycle operator license or permit if an individual has a medical condition that can be controlled under the care of a physician.

HB1079 changes the rules for when the Department of Public Safety can deny or restrict driver's licenses for people with medical conditions like seizures or blackouts. Instead of automatically denying licenses until someone goes 12 months without an episode, the bill allows the department to issue a temporary permit if a doctor confirms the condition is controlled by medication and the person is under ongoing medical care, with the permit reviewed every six months.

require emergency personnel to use flares or emergency reflective triangles to mark stopped emergency vehicles in some circumstances.

This bill requires emergency personnel to place three flares or reflective triangles on the roadway when their vehicle stops to respond to an emergency—specifically when visibility is poor, road conditions are hazardous, or the emergency will take an extended time to address. The law strengthens protections for stopped emergency vehicles by making these warning markers mandatory in certain circumstances rather than optional, helping prevent accidents involving other drivers who might not see the stopped emergency vehicle.

revise a provision related to the adoption of federal motor carrier regulations.

South Dakota is updating which federal motor carrier safety regulations it adopts by changing the effective date of these rules from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026. The bill also clarifies that smaller intrastate trucks (under 26,001 pounds) that don't carry hazardous materials or passengers aren't required to follow certain federal safety regulations, and it allows drivers as young as 18 to operate most non-interstate vehicles, while requiring 21-year-olds for interstate and hazardous material transport.

require that any holder of a commercial driver license in this state must be proficient in the English language, and to provide a penalty therefor.

South Dakota will require all commercial driver's license holders to demonstrate proficiency in the English language as a condition of getting or keeping their license. The bill adds this English proficiency requirement to the state's existing commercial driver's license qualifications, aligning with federal standards for commercial vehicle operators.

revise the speed limit restriction applicable to the operation of a golf cart on certain highways.

This bill allows golf carts to operate on state and county highways where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less, raising the threshold from the current limit of 25 miles per hour. Golf cart operators still must follow all other state motor vehicle requirements regardless of this change.

update certain citations to federal regulations regarding pipeline safety inspections.

HB 1027 updates South Dakota's pipeline safety law to reference the current version of federal pipeline safety regulations as they exist on January 1, 2026. The bill ensures that state pipeline inspection requirements stay aligned with the latest federal standards, so South Dakota's regulations don't become outdated as federal rules change.

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.

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 the purposes permitted for certain offenders to operate a motor vehicle.

HB 1013 clarifies what purposes young drivers convicted of drug or alcohol offenses can use their vehicles for during license revocation periods—specifically allowing driving for employment, childcare, medical appointments, school, court appearances, probation meetings, sobriety testing, counseling, and treatment. The bill expands the list of permitted purposes beyond what was previously allowed, giving courts more flexibility to let offenders maintain some driving privileges for essential activities while their licenses are suspended.

establish a greater tire weight limit for a mobile crane moving on any highway in this state.

South Dakota's tire weight limits on highways are being increased for mobile cranes—vehicles with lifting booms that move between job sites—allowing them to carry up to 650 pounds per inch of tire width instead of the standard 600 pounds. This change applies only to mobile cranes operating with a required permit and moving with their boom carried over the vehicle.