South Dakota Bills

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 131: establish an electronic system for vehicle titles.

This bill establishes an electronic system for vehicle titles in South Dakota, directly affecting vehicle owners and the state's Department of Revenue. The key provision requires the creation of a digital platform to issue and manage vehicle titles, replacing or supplementing current paper-based processes. This change aims to streamline title transfers and reduce administrative costs by digitizing records. The bill does not specify additional requirements for vehicle registration or insurance, focusing solely on the electronic title system implementation.

Topics ✓ Technology ✓ Transportation

Nicole Uhre-Balk (D) David Kull (R) Eric Emery (D) Carl Perry (R) Larry Zikmund (R)

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 164: prohibit the use of a deepfake to influence an election and to provide a penalty therefor.

This bill prohibits the use of deepfake technology to influence elections in South Dakota and establishes penalties for violations. It directly affects individuals and organizations that create or distribute manipulated media content intended to impact voting outcomes. The legislation would impose legal consequences on those who knowingly use artificial intelligence-generated videos or images to mislead voters about candidates or ballot measures. By targeting specific deceptive practices, the law aims to maintain election integrity without restricting legitimate uses of digital media.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 92: require that the director of the Legislative Research Council and the secretary of state review an initiated measure and determine if the measure embraces more than one subject.

SB 92 requires the director of the Legislative Research Council and the secretary of state to review citizen-initiated measures to determine if they cover more than one subject. This provision adds a formal review step to ensure that ballot measures adhere to single-subject requirements before they can be placed on the ballot. The bill directly affects the administrative process for evaluating proposed laws initiated by voters in South Dakota. It does not change the content of the measures themselves but establishes a procedural check on their scope and organization.

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 91: revise the requirements for a petition to initiate a measure or constitutional amendment or to refer a law.

This bill modifies the rules for how citizens can gather signatures to propose new laws or constitutional changes in South Dakota. It directly affects voters and petition organizers by updating the specific requirements they must meet to submit these measures for consideration. The key provision involves revising the standards for collecting and validating signatures needed to place a measure on the ballot. This change aims to streamline the process for initiating legislative or constitutional amendments through the public petition system.

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 88: increase the amount of exempt proceeds when a homestead is sold or divided by court order.

This bill proposes to increase the amount of proceeds from a homestead sale or court-ordered division that are exempt from creditors' claims. It directly affects homeowners in South Dakota who may be selling their property or facing a legal division of their home. The key mechanism involves raising the dollar threshold for protected funds, ensuring more money remains with the homeowner rather than being used to satisfy debts. This change aims to provide greater financial security for residents during property transitions or legal proceedings. The legislation does not alter other aspects of homestead protection laws or affect non-residential properties.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 176: clarify the discovery procedures and powers and to modify the administration of the Government Operations and Audit Committee.

SB 176 aims to clarify discovery procedures and modify the administration of the Government Operations and Audit Committee in South Dakota. The bill updates how information is gathered during investigations and adjusts the committee's operational structure to improve oversight efficiency. These changes directly affect state government officials and the audit committee members who will implement the new procedures. The legislation focuses on refining existing processes rather than introducing new investigative powers or altering the committee's core responsibilities.

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 120: update the membership of the Animal Industry Board to include a poultry producer.

SB 120 amends the membership of South Dakota's Animal Industry Board by adding a representative from the poultry industry. This change directly affects the board's composition by ensuring poultry producers have a voice in state animal health and industry regulations. The bill establishes a new voting member position to balance representation across different agricultural sectors. This adjustment modifies the existing statutory requirements for board appointments without altering the board's overall authority or responsibilities.

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 215: remove the prohibition against a landowner having an easement on the landowner's property.

SB 215 removes a prohibition in South Dakota that prevented landowners from having an easement on their own property. This change directly affects landowners by allowing them to grant easements on land they already own. The bill amends existing state statutes to clarify that such easements are legally permissible. This policy adjustment enables landowners to manage their property rights more flexibly without legal restrictions.

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 3: increase driver license fees.

The bill proposes increasing the fees for driver licenses in South Dakota. It directly affects all residents and visitors who apply for or renew their driving permits in the state. The key provision is a specific fee adjustment that would generate additional revenue for the state's transportation and licensing systems. This change does not alter eligibility requirements or the process for obtaining a license, only the cost associated with the service.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 115: revise a provision related to sexual contact with a child under eighteen.

SB 115 proposes to update South Dakota law regarding sexual contact with minors under the age of eighteen. The bill directly affects individuals who may be charged with such offenses and legal professionals handling related cases. It revises specific provisions to clarify or modify how sexual contact with children is defined or prosecuted under state statutes. The legislation aims to ensure the legal framework accurately reflects current standards for protecting minors from sexual exploitation.

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 143: modify the composition and staffing requirements of the South Dakota-Ireland Trade Commission.

This bill modifies the structure and staffing rules for the South Dakota-Ireland Trade Commission. It directly affects the commission's members and employees by changing how they are appointed and how many staff members the commission must have. The key provisions adjust the composition requirements and establish new staffing standards for the commission's operations. These changes aim to update the commission's framework to better support trade activities between South Dakota and Ireland.

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 106: require an individual be registered as a voter of this state before being eligible to be a petition sponsor for a ballot measure.

This bill requires individuals to be registered voters in South Dakota before they can sponsor petitions for ballot measures. It directly affects petition sponsors by adding a voter registration requirement to their eligibility. The key provision mandates that petition sponsors must meet the same voter registration standards as other voters in the state. This change ensures that only registered voters can initiate ballot measure campaigns.

Bill results