South Dakota Bills

introduced · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SC 815: honoring Shane Jordan as the 2025 winner of the Hugh Hammond Bennett Conservation Planner Award.

This bill formally recognizes Shane Jordan as the 2025 winner of the Hugh Hammond Bennett Conservation Planner Award. It does not create new laws or change existing policies, but rather serves as a commemorative resolution to honor an individual's achievement. The legislation acknowledges Jordan's work as a district conservationist and his receipt of a national award for conservation excellence. The bill has no impact on funding, regulations, or public programs.

introduced · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SC 816: celebrating Generations Indigenous Ways and its impact.

This bill is a legislative commemoration that formally recognizes Generations Indigenous Ways, a nonprofit organization on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The resolution highlights the organization's work in blending Lakota cultural knowledge with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education to empower Native youth. It acknowledges the group's programs, which include science camps, afterschool activities, and food sovereignty initiatives that foster cultural pride and community wellbeing. The bill does not change laws or allocate funding but serves to honor the organization's contributions to education and cultural preservation.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

introduced · South Dakota · House Mar 3, 2026

HC 8018: celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the creation of the Legislative Research Council.

This bill is a legislative commemoration that recognizes the 75th anniversary of the Legislative Research Council, a nonpartisan agency established in 1951 to support the South Dakota Legislature. The resolution formally acknowledges the Council's growth from a single staff member to a professional team of 32 full-time employees who handle bill drafting, research, fiscal analysis, and legislative operations. It also honors the dedicated staff, both past and present, for their behind-the-scenes work that enables legislators to focus on public policymaking. This measure does not change any laws or policies but serves as an official recognition of the Council's long-standing service to the state's legislative institution.

introduced · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SC 818: commending Grey Zabel for his achievements as a member of the 2026 Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks.

This bill is a legislative commemoration that formally recognizes Grey Zabel, a South Dakota native, for his achievements as a member of the 2026 Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks. The resolution highlights his athletic career, including state championships in high school, NCAA titles at North Dakota State University, and his selection in the 2025 NFL draft. It serves as an official acknowledgment of his contributions to sports and his role in inspiring young athletes in South Dakota. The bill does not create any new laws or policies but rather serves as a symbolic gesture of appreciation for his accomplishments.

passed both · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 208: require the award of certain disbursements to prevailing owners and taxpayers in appeals of property classifications or assessments.

SB 208 requires South Dakota courts to automatically award attorney fees and costs to property owners or taxpayers who win appeals against property tax assessments. Currently, courts could choose whether to award these fees to winning appellants, but this bill makes it mandatory when owners prevail. The law applies to both circuit court and Supreme Court cases involving property tax disputes. It directly affects property owners challenging their tax assessments in court by ensuring they receive reimbursement for legal costs if they win. The key change shifts the rule from discretionary ("may award") to mandatory ("must award") for prevailing parties.

passed · South Dakota · House Mar 3, 2026

HCR 6015: encouraging the Executive Board of the Legislative Research Council to form an interim legislative committee to study the role and function of county boards of mental illness.

This concurrent resolution (HCR 6015) requests the Legislative Research Council's Executive Board to form a committee to study expanding state involvement in the national instant criminal background check system. It specifically directs the committee to examine how to better identify individuals with mental health issues seeking firearms, while addressing due process rights, reporting standards, and training requirements for those handling background check information. The study will also evaluate county mental health boards' roles, existing commitment processes, and how they might interact with background check systems. The resolution does not create new law but asks for a report with findings and recommendations for future legislative action. (Note: The bill title incorrectly references "county boards of mental illness" instead of the actual focus on background checks and mental health in firearm contexts.)

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 55: 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.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 20: make an appropriation for tax refunds for elderly persons and persons with a disability, and to declare an emergency.

This bill appropriates $425,000 from South Dakota's general fund to the Department of Revenue to provide tax refunds for real property tax and sales tax to elderly residents and individuals with disabilities. The refunds are based on existing laws (chapters 10-18A and 10-45A), with up to $20,000 allowed for administrative costs. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation and requires unspent funds by June 30, 2027, to revert to the general fund. It directly affects eligible elderly and disabled taxpayers by providing financial relief on specific taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 72: extend the time for reverting moneys appropriated for the modernization of the state's enterprise resource planning systems.

This bill extends the deadline for unspent funds allocated to modernize South Dakota's state enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. It amends existing law to delay the date when unused funds must revert to the general fund from June 30, 2029. The change directly affects state agencies managing the ERP modernization project, providing additional time to obligate or spend these funds. The key mechanism is modifying the reversion date in the 2023 appropriations law without altering the funding amount or project scope.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed both · South Dakota · House Mar 3, 2026

HB 1173: require certain applicants that seek a permit from the Public Utilities Commission of the State of South Dakota to prepare and pay for an environmental impact statement.

HB 1173 requires South Dakota's Public Utilities Commission to mandate an environmental impact statement (EIS) for certain utility permit applications before final approval. It specifically applies to applicants seeking permits for carbon dioxide transmission facilities and may require an EIS for other projects if the Commission determines it is necessary under state environmental law (Chapter 34A-9). The bill does not change the permit process itself but adds a requirement for an EIS review, which could affect project timelines and costs for utility developers. This applies to all pending and future permit applications before the Commission.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · South Dakota · House Mar 3, 2026

HB 1179: modify provisions related to the reimbursement fee for preparation of a garnishment disclosure.

HB 1179 increases the reimbursement fee paid to garnishees (entities holding a debtor's assets) for preparing garnishment disclosures. The bill amends South Dakota law to raise the current $15.50 fee for this service, requiring the plaintiff to pay the higher amount to cover the garnishee's preparation costs. This change directly affects garnishees who must prepare the disclosure when a garnishment summons is served. The bill does not alter the process or requirements for garnishment proceedings, only the reimbursement amount for the garnishee's work.

passed both · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 190: codify the rights of a parent.

South Dakota Senate Bill 190 establishes specific rights for parents regarding their minor children's upbringing, education, health care, and mental health decisions. The bill requires state agencies, schools, and employees to obtain parental consent before performing medical procedures, mental health evaluations, prescription medications, or biometric scans on minors - except in emergencies where immediate harm is imminent. It also grants parents access to their children's medical and school records, the right to direct religious instruction, and the ability to withdraw children from school activities or instruction on gender topics. The law explicitly states these rights do not override prohibitions against child abuse or neglect.

Bill results