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provide for prescribed burning of state-owned land by a person owning adjoining land and to declare an emergency.

Landowners with property next to state-owned land along the Missouri River can now conduct prescribed burns on the state land along with their own property, but only after receiving written permission from the state agency that manages that land. The landowner must submit a request explaining that the burn will control woody plants and manage grassland, describe both properties involved, and provide a timeline for the burn. The landowner is responsible for having fire suppression equipment available and following all state burning regulations.

create the water infrastructure development fund, to provide an appropriation, to provide for the awarding of grants and loans from the fund for certain rural water projects and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota creates a new Water Infrastructure Development Fund to help pay for rural water projects across the state. The Board of Water and Natural Resources can award grants (up to 10% of construction costs) and loans (up to 50% of construction costs) from this fund, with $3 million transferred from the state's general fund to get it started. The board will establish rules for deciding which projects receive money and what the loan and grant terms will be.

make appropriations for water and environmental purposes and to declare an emergency.

SB37 allocates $1.425 million in total funding from the South Dakota water and environment fund to the Board of Water and Natural Resources for three water-related projects: a regional water system feasibility study, hydrology and water management studies with a wetlands mapping component, and a third unspecified project. The bill also temporarily allows the Board to fully fund the nonfederal share of hydrology studies, waiving the normal cost-sharing requirement.

amend the type of entities eligible to participate in the cybersecurity services initiative.

South Dakota's $7 million cybersecurity services initiative, originally limited to counties and municipalities, now expands to include nonprofit organizations that provide drinking water and sanitary sewer utilities, as well as utilities operated by any political subdivision. This change allows more public water and sewer systems to access state funding to strengthen their cybersecurity protections against digital threats.

encouraging the review and approval of water rights applications and future use reservations from the Missouri River.

This resolution asks South Dakota's Water Management Board to prioritize reviewing and approving water rights applications and future use reservations from the Missouri River, particularly those submitted by public water systems. It doesn't change existing law but instead encourages the state board to speed up its process for handling these water requests to prepare for future water needs across the state.

supporting congressional authorization for, and federal participation in, major rural water supply projects identified by the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems.

This resolution expresses South Dakota's support for federal funding and authorization of four major rural water supply projects designed to address water shortages across different regions of the state: the Dakota Mainstem, Western Dakota, Lewis and Clark, and one additional project. The resolution doesn't change state law itself—it's a statement of support meant to encourage Congress to invest in and approve these regional water infrastructure initiatives. It essentially tells the federal government that South Dakota wants help solving rural water supply challenges that local systems alone cannot fix.

prohibit natural asset companies.

This bill creates a new state law prohibiting South Dakota from doing business with or investing money in "natural asset companies"—businesses that buy rights to manage natural resources like soil, water quality, and biodiversity for profit. The ban prevents these companies from gaining any interest in or control over public lands or state resources, and blocks the state from investing its money in such companies.

update provisions related to certain large-use customers of utilities.

Large data centers in South Dakota must now notify local water providers about their water needs, install closed-loop cooling systems to limit water withdrawal to amounts set by the Water Management Board, and cannot use more water than rules allow after residential and public service needs are met. Data centers must also submit quarterly water usage reports to the board and reduce consumption during water shortages until essential uses are protected.

make an appropriation for the construction costs at the Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery, and to declare an emergency.

This bill appropriates $8 million total ($3.5 million in federal funds and $4.5 million in state funds) to the Department of Game, Fish and Parks for construction and modernization of the Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery, including new buildings, equipment, utilities, and parking. The bill declares an emergency so the funds can be used immediately rather than waiting for the normal budget process.

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 transfer a 3.75-acre parcel in Lawrence County containing an unused hydroelectric plant to the Spearfish Canyon Foundation to operate as a historic museum or other public facility. The state retains ownership rights and can reclaim the property if it stops being used for public purposes for two consecutive years.

require that annual withdrawal of groundwater from any groundwater source may not exceed the annual recharge of water to the groundwater source.

This bill strengthens South Dakota's groundwater protection by requiring that annual groundwater withdrawals cannot exceed the annual recharge rate for any groundwater source. The change clarifies and reinforces existing law that already prohibited such over-withdrawal, with a narrow exception allowing water distribution systems to exceed recharge limits only when withdrawing from older, deeper geological formations below the Greenhorn formation.