SB 62 South Dakota Senate · 2025 Regular Session

establish mandatory reporting requirements related to improper governmental conduct and crime, and to provide a penalty therefor.

SB 62 establishes mandatory reporting requirements for individuals who witness improper governmental conduct or crime within South Dakota. The bill requires specific persons to report such incidents to designated authorities and sets penalties for failing to comply with these reporting obligations. This legislation directly affects government employees and citizens who come across evidence of misconduct or criminal activity in public service settings. The law aims to create a structured process for documenting and addressing improper conduct rather than preventing specific outcomes or advocating for particular policy positions.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Feb 19, 2025 Signed Mar 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Engrossed Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 6, 2025
MODERATE
This bill establishes mandatory reporting requirements for state employees who suspect improper governmental conduct or crimes. It adds new definitions for key terms, creates a reporting process where employees notify supervisors who then report to the attorney general and auditor-general, and imposes misdemeanor penalties for supervisors who fail to comply. The bill also requires state agencies to adopt written policies on reporting and mandates annual reporting to the Government Operations and Audit Committee.
Scope change
The bill expands scope by adding new mandatory reporting obligations to state employees and supervisors, creating a formal process for reporting improper conduct and crimes within state government.
DEFINITION

Added eleven new definitions including 'adverse employment action,' 'conflict of interest,' 'crime,' 'good faith report,' 'improper governmental conduct,' 'reasonable cause,' 'reporter,' 'required report,' 'state agency,' 'state employee,' and 'supervisor.'

REQUIREMENT

Created mandatory reporting requirements where state employees with reasonable cause to suspect improper conduct or crime must promptly notify a supervisor, who must then submit information to the attorney general and auditor-general.

Required each state agency to adopt a written policy on reporting improper governmental conduct and crime, and to notify employees of their obligations and protections.

Mandated that the attorney general provide annual information to the Government Operations and Audit Committee regarding the number of reports received and their disposition.

ENFORCEMENT

Established Class 1 misdemeanor penalties for supervisors who knowingly fail to make required reports or submit required records.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2025 · House Mar 3, 2025

How they voted

2014
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 35
Mar 5, 2025
D Democratic3
3 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
17 Yea 14 Nay 1
53% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
11
Committee
5
Amendments
2
Mar 13, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 2025-03-13 S.J. 529
executive
Mar 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 488
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 473
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate Concurred in amendments , Passed, YEAS 20, NAYS 14 S.J. 451
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 66, NAYS 3 H.J. 439
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Introduced
House of Representatives Motion to amend , Passed, YEAS 38, NAYS 31 H.J. 438 Amendment 62H
lower
Mar 3, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (65-3-1)
house
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed, H.J. 1
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
State Affairs Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 13, NAYS 0 H.J. 1
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced
First read in House and referred to H.J. 324
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 2 S.J. 282
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Deferred to another day , Passed, S.J. 266
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Judiciary Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 5, NAYS 1
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Introduced
Judiciary Motion to amend , Passed, Amendment 62A
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to S.J. 63
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.