South Dakota Bills

died · South Dakota · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1121: expand the locations at which raw milk may be purchased for personal use by a consumer.

HB 1121 expands where South Dakota consumers can legally purchase raw milk for personal use. It adds a new allowed location: retail stores owned by the milk producer, provided these stores are not located at the farm where the milk is produced. Currently, raw milk could only be bought directly at the farm, at farmers markets, or at a producer-owned store located on the farm. The bill specifically allows producer-owned retail stores (not at the farm) to sell raw milk directly to consumers.

Karla Lems (R) Bobbi Andera (R) Travis Ismay (R) Heather Baxter (R) Liz May (R)

failed · South Dakota · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1151: ban kratom and kratom products and to provide a penalty therefor.

HB 1151 bans kratom and kratom products in South Dakota, making it a Class 2 misdemeanor to sell, distribute, purchase, consume, or possess them. It specifically prohibits sales or use by anyone under 21 (except by parents/guardians), and requires strict labeling for products that remain legal, including serving sizes, alkaloid content, and health warnings. The bill also prohibits products containing over 2% 7-hydroxymitragynine, synthetic compounds, or harmful additives. This directly affects consumers, businesses selling kratom, and retailers who must comply with new labeling rules.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 158: amend the manner in which a school district determines the district's enrollment for the purpose of calculating state aid to general education.

SB 158 changes how South Dakota school districts calculate enrollment for state education funding. It specifies that a district's fall enrollment - used to determine aid - must include all K-12 students enrolled on the last Friday of September, plus students the district pays tuition for, minus students it receives tuition for (excluding nonresident students in state care and students in specific special education programs). The bill also defines annual enrollment as the higher of the fall or spring enrollment counts. This directly affects all public school districts receiving state aid for general education by altering their funding calculation base.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 11: increase reinstatement fees and abstract driver record fees.

SB 11 increases two driver-related fees in South Dakota. It raises the license reinstatement fee from $50 to $70 for people whose driving privileges were suspended, and sets a new $7 fee for certified driver record abstracts (which show driving history). These fees apply to individuals seeking to reinstate a suspended license or request their own driving record. The abstract fee increase applies to all requesters except governmental entities, which remain exempt. The bill does not change eligibility for license reinstatement or modify driving record exclusions for emergency personnel.

signed · South Dakota · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1011: modify fees charged by the clerk of courts for certain copies of court records.

HB 1011 modifies court clerk fees for specific document copies in South Dakota. It reduces the fee for reproducing certified court records (like authenticated certificates) from $15 to $2 and adds a $5 fee for issuing or docketing certain court transcripts. These changes directly affect individuals and businesses needing court records for civil cases, divorces, guardianships, or estate matters. The bill makes concrete adjustments to existing fee structures without altering legal procedures or creating new obligations.

signed · South Dakota · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1002: revise the daily meal allowance for wildland fire employees and fire suppression forces in certain circumstances.

HB 1002 revises the daily meal allowance for wildland fire employees and fire suppression forces working on uncontrolled fires in the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District or during state emergencies declared under specific laws. It sets a maximum daily meal rate that cannot exceed the U.S. General Services Administration's per diem rate for South Dakota. The Department of Public Safety must publish this rate annually, effective October 1st, and it only applies to meals approved by the department. This change directly affects firefighters and support staff responding to wildfires under these conditions.

signed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 10: revise a provision related to the adoption of federal motor carrier regulations.

This bill adopts specific federal motor carrier regulations from Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations for South Dakota operations, with key modifications. It expands the application of federal rules to most intrastate operations (excluding small vehicles under 26,000 lbs not carrying hazardous materials or over 15 passengers), sets a minimum age of 21 for drivers in interstate commerce or handling hazardous materials, and exempts intrastate drivers from federal medical certification requirements unless required by employers. These changes directly affect commercial motor vehicle operators, drivers, and safety enforcement within South Dakota. The bill updates state law to align with federal standards while clarifying exemptions for smaller, non-hazardous intrastate operations.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1267: require statewide livestock ownership inspection.

HB 1267 requires all livestock owners in South Dakota to undergo mandatory ownership inspections when moving animals within or out of the state, directly affecting ranchers, farmers, and livestock transporters. Key provisions include establishing a Brand Board to register brands (with fees up to $50 for registration), set inspection fees ($1 per animal), and enforce rules for out-of-state brands (requiring permits unless rebranded). The law mandates inspections for all livestock leaving inspection areas by July 1, 2029, and imposes penalties for violations, including a Class 1 misdemeanor for noncompliance. It also creates specific fee structures for brand transfers ($50), renewals ($18/year or $90 for 5 years), and inspections outside designated areas.

died · South Dakota · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1297: provide for the study of statewide transit needs and the economic impacts of public transit, and to make an appropriation therefor.

HB 1297 appropriates $125,000 from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Transportation to study statewide public transit needs and their economic impacts. The study must specifically examine how public transit affects workforce availability and influences Medicaid spending, institutional placements, and healthcare utilization. The Department of Transportation must submit a final report with findings and recommendations to the Legislative Research Council by November 30, 2026. This bill directly affects state transportation planning and provides funding for a specific research project, with no new regulations or services created.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

died · South Dakota · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 242: make an appropriation to the Department of Education for the provision of grants to sparse school districts.

SB 242 appropriates $2.5 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Education for grants to "sparse school districts" (as defined in state law). The funds are distributed based on each district's 2026 fall enrollment, with grants used for facility improvements, educational technology, or instructional materials. Districts must use the funds by June 30, 2027, or the unspent money reverts to the state treasury. This bill directly affects rural or low-enrollment school districts eligible under state definitions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Technology

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1315: authorize the recall of certain elected officials or individuals appointed to fill vacancies in certain offices.

HB 1315 would allow South Dakota voters to initiate a recall of local elected officials or individuals appointed to fill vacancies in their offices. To trigger a recall, a petition requiring signatures from 15% of registered voters in the official's jurisdiction (based on the prior general election) must be filed, along with specific grounds for removal such as crime, incompetence, or misconduct. If the petition meets requirements, a special election must be held within 60 days to decide removal, with the official allowed to remain on the ballot unless they request otherwise. The bill does not apply to officials subject to impeachment under the state constitution.

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1273: revise certain mining statutes.

HB 1273 revises definitions and clarifies rules for "life of the mine permits" in South Dakota's mining law. It specifically defines how mining operators can temporarily pause operations (up to 180 days with notice) and extend pauses up to 10 years total, provided they submit plans for resuming work and maintain reclamation measures. This affects mining companies operating under these permits and the Board of Minerals and Environment, which oversees the process. The bill focuses on procedural clarity for permit management without introducing new environmental or financial requirements.

Bill results