HB 1071 creates a new 10-year boat registration option for owners of boats transported exclusively on a trailer registered to them in South Dakota. To qualify, owners must provide proof of their trailer's registration and submit an affidavit confirming the boat is only transported on that trailer, paying a special fee at application or renewal. The registration expires after 10 years but can be renewed for additional 10-year periods if requirements are met. If the trailer registration lapses during the 10-year period, the boat reverts to annual registration with expiration based on the remaining time or December 31 of the last trailer registration year. This directly affects boat owners using registered trailers for transport, simplifying registration for those meeting the criteria.
This is a symbolic House Concurrent Resolution (HCR), not a bill with binding policy changes. It states South Dakota's commitment to "honest economic development" based on Republican principles like limited government, deregulation, and low taxes, but it does not create new laws or alter existing ones. The resolution urges future legislative and executive policies to prioritize reducing government intervention and supporting free markets, without specifying any concrete actions or affecting specific businesses or residents. As a non-binding statement, it has no direct impact on economic development practices or individuals.
SB 86 requires South Dakota state agencies to verify that public construction contractors have valid workers' compensation insurance before work begins on state-funded projects. During the project, agencies can request proof of insurance payments, subcontractor lists, and payroll records to prevent fraud. This directly affects contractors working on public improvements and state agencies managing those contracts, with the key mechanism being mandatory pre-contract verification and ongoing monitoring of insurance coverage.
HB 1004 authorizes voters to remove county commissioners through a recall process. It requires petitions signed by 15% of district voters or 5% of county voters (based on the last general election), with signatures valid only within 60 days of filing. The petition must state specific grounds for removal, such as corruption, incompetence, or misconduct, and triggers a special election within 60 days to replace the commissioner. This bill directly affects county commissioners and voters in South Dakota counties, establishing a new procedure for their removal.
HB 1015 creates a two-year pilot program (ending December 31, 2027) in South Dakota's Unified Judicial System allowing judges to supervise defendants charged with misdemeanors or felonies instead of requiring jail time before trial. Judges may impose release conditions through presentence court services officers, following existing legal standards. The program requires the judicial system to report detailed results by December 2027, including defendant appearance rates, new charges, missed court dates, and program costs. This directly affects defendants facing misdemeanor or felony charges who qualify for supervised pretrial release under the pilot.
South Dakota's HB 1083 creates a new felony charge for stalking public officials, separate from general stalking offenses. It defines "public official" to include elected state/federal leaders, legislators, judges, and law enforcement officers. The bill specifies that intentionally stalking these officials with the intent to cause fear of death or serious harm constitutes a Class 6 felony, carrying the same penalty as existing felony stalking of children. This amendment modifies existing stalking laws (§ 22-19A-1) by adding a specific provision for public officials, without changing penalties for general stalking or stalking children. The law directly affects public officials and those who target them through repeated following, threats, or harassment.
HB 1081 exempts certain healthcare providers, public safety workers, and caregivers from jury duty under specific conditions. Healthcare providers caring for pregnant patients or those with serious medical conditions can request exemption if their absence would cause patient hardship, such as uncontrolled pain or worsened health. Public safety workers (like police and EMTs) and individuals solely responsible for daily care of a permanently disabled household member may also be exempt if their absence risks public safety or the disabled person’s health. The bill also requires courts to notify jurors 14 days in advance of their required service date.
HB 1026 requires individuals performing property data collection (observing real estate for financial transactions like sales or loans, excluding appraisals) to obtain a state license. To qualify, applicants must complete 30 hours of approved training, pass an exam, complete 5 supervised observations, and pass background checks. The law exempts licensed real estate appraisers, brokers, architects, engineers, and certain employees (like insurance adjusters or government workers). Violating the licensing requirement is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and the bill does not apply to banks or entities acting within their existing licensed scope.
SB 66 prohibits South Dakota election officials from using automatic tabulating equipment or electronic ballot marking systems for any election. The bill requires all ballots to be hand-counted manually in public view, replacing electronic processing with paper-based counting. It directly affects county auditors, precinct election boards, and all election administrators responsible for ballot handling and counting. The law mandates that ballots must be printed on paper (not processed electronically), with all vote counts performed manually after polls close, eliminating electronic tabulation entirely.
HB 1078 requires South Dakota's Board of Education to amend administrative rules by September 2026 to update high school graduation coursework requirements. The bill mandates specific credit counts: 4 units of language arts (including writing, speech, and American literature), 3 social studies units (U.S. history and government), 3 math units (including Algebra I), 3 science units (including biology), plus required courses in personal finance, fine arts, physical education, health, and electives. It allows substitutions for one science credit using approved advanced computer science or agriculture science courses (but not for biology), and permits up to one fine arts credit through extracurricular activities with documented alignment to state standards. This directly affects all South Dakota public high school students and school districts implementing graduation standards.
South Dakota's House and Senate passed HCR 6005, a concurrent resolution recognizing January as National Blood Donor Month. The resolution highlights the critical need for blood donations (citing that transfusions occur every two seconds in the U.S. and type O blood is most urgently needed) and urges citizens, businesses, and organizations to support blood drives and acknowledge donors. It does not create new laws or funding but symbolically encourages regular donation and community blood drive participation. This is a procedural resolution focused on raising awareness, not implementing policy changes.
This House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 6003) recognizes conservation and restoration practices - such as native vegetation restoration, stream rehabilitation, and beaver dam analogues - as critical for addressing water shortages and reducing wildfire risks in South Dakota's Black Hills region. It specifically commends organizations like the Black Hills Watershed Collaborative, landowners, and community groups working on these projects. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally acknowledges these efforts' role in improving water availability, fire mitigation, soil health, and ecosystem resilience. It serves as a symbolic statement of legislative support for ongoing community-led conservation work.
