SB 55 South Dakota Senate · 2026 Regular Session

make an appropriation for the payment of extraordinary litigation expenses and to declare an emergency.

SB 55 appropriates $650,000 from South Dakota's general fund to the state's "extraordinary litigation fund" to cover eligible legal costs under § 1-33-8.11. The bill directly affects the state government, specifically the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration, which will approve payments for these expenses. It declares an emergency to allow immediate funding, with unspent funds reverting per standard state procedures. The bill provides no new legal requirements but allocates existing funds for ongoing litigation costs.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Mar 3, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 3 edits · Feb 23, 2026
MINOR
The document transitioned from a browser compatibility error page to the full enrolled text of Senate Bill 55, which appropriates $650,000 for extraordinary litigation expenses. The bill now includes formal legislative formatting, emergency declaration language, and official certification signatures indicating it has passed both chambers and received gubernatorial approval. This represents the final enrolled version ready for implementation rather than the initial introduction stage.
Scope change
The bill's substantive scope remains unchanged - it still appropriates $650,000 for extraordinary litigation expenses from the general fund to the extraordinary litigation fund. The change is purely procedural, moving from draft/introduction format to the final enrolled version with all required signatures and certification.
TECHNICAL

Added full enrolled bill formatting including session information (101st Legislative Session), bill number (SB 55), and official certification signatures from Senate leadership and Governor

Removed browser compatibility warnings and navigation elements from the initial webpage version

TIMELINE

Added emergency declaration language stating the Act is in full force and effect from passage and approval, with dated certification for 2026

Floor votes · Senate Feb 17, 2026 · House Feb 20, 2026

How they voted

340
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 35
Feb 17, 2026
D Democratic3
3 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
31 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
7
Committee
2
Mar 3, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 2026-03-03 S.J. 438
executive
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 435
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 365
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 62, NAYS 5 H.J. 394
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Deferred to another day , Passed, H.J. 372
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Introduced
First read in House and referral to committee waived pursuant to JR 6D-1 H.J. 356
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0 S.J. 274
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee on Appropriations Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 16, NAYS 0 J.J. 21
upper
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Referred to , Passed, Joint Committee on Appropriations S.J. 74
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations S.J. 11
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.