SCR 607 South Dakota Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Encouraging the Legislature to continue using person-first language that acknowledges the person before any disability.

This bill encourages the South Dakota Legislature to adopt person-first language when referring to individuals with disabilities, ensuring the person is mentioned before their disability. It directly affects legislative communications, official documents, and public statements made by state lawmakers. The key provision is a recommendation to use respectful terminology that emphasizes individual identity rather than defining people solely by their condition. This change aims to promote dignity and reduce stigma in official state discourse. The bill does not mandate enforcement but serves as a guiding principle for legislative language use.
Bill status passed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Feb 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 4 edits · Feb 21, 2025
MODERATE
The document changed from a browser error page to the full text of Senate Concurrent Resolution 607, a legislative resolution encouraging the use of person-first language when referring to people with disabilities. This resolution expresses the Legislature's support for language that places the person before their disability in statutes and rules, aligning with best practices from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Scope change
The document scope changed from a technical error page to a complete legislative resolution that applies to all South Dakota statutes and rules regarding terminology for persons with disabilities.
REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the South Dakota Legislature to continue using person-first language in statutes and rules, placing the person before any disability reference.

DEFINITION

Incorporated definitions and standards from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities regarding appropriate terminology.

TIMELINE

Established adoption dates with Senate approval on February 13, 2025 and House concurrence on February 20, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Removed browser compatibility warnings and technical error messages that were present in the original document.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2025 · House Feb 20, 2025

How they voted

350
Passed
Total votes 35
Feb 13, 2025
D Democratic3
3 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
3
Committee
1
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
House of Representatives Concurred in Resolution , Passed, YEAS 54, NAYS 16 H.J. 343
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Adopt Resolution , Passed, YEAS 35, NAYS 0 S.J. 265
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Health and Human Services Adopt Resolution , Passed, YEAS 5, NAYS 0
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to S.J. 195
upper
14 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors