SB 4 South Dakota Senate · 2026 Regular Session

revise procedures for returning and withholding security deposits for residential premises.

SB 4 revises South Dakota's rules for security deposits in rental housing, directly affecting landlords and tenants. It requires landlords to return full deposits within 21 days of lease end or provide a written explanation for withholding, limited to unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, or costs to restore the property. Landlords must also give tenants an itemized accounting of withheld amounts within 45 days of request. Failure to comply results in forfeiting all rights to withhold the deposit and potential $200 punitive damages for bad-faith retention.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Jan 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Feb 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Feb 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 3 edits · Feb 4, 2026
MINOR
This document shows the transition of Senate Bill 4 from its introduction to its enrolled (final) version. The bill revises procedures for landlords returning or withholding security deposits for residential properties in South Dakota. The enrolled version includes all legislative text along with formal signatures and certification pages required for the bill to become law.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on security deposit procedures for residential premises in South Dakota. No changes to applicability were made during the transition from introduced to enrolled status.
TECHNICAL

Added official legislative formatting including session number (101st), year (2026), bill title, and enrolled certification pages with signature blocks for Senate and Governor.

Removed browser compatibility warnings and navigation elements that were present in the introduced version but are not part of the actual legislation.

Added bill number and file tracking information (Senate Bill No. 4, File No., Chapter No.) to the enrolled version for official record-keeping.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 21, 2026 · House Feb 3, 2026

How they voted

330
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 35
Jan 21, 2026
D Democratic3
3 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
30 Yea 2
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
9
Committee
2
Feb 12, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 2026-02-12 S.J. 256
executive
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 229
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 186
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 65, NAYS 2 H.J. 208
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed,
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Commerce and Energy Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 13, NAYS 0
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
First read in House and referred to House Commerce and Energy H.J. 114
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 0 S.J. 75
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed,
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Commerce and Energy Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 0
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Commerce and Energy S.J. 10
upper
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors