South Dakota Bills

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 162: revise the factors for considering deviation from the child support obligation schedule.

SB 162 revises the factors South Dakota courts must consider when deciding to deviate from the standard child support amount. It adds seven specific criteria, including financial hardship (presumed if support exceeds 50% of a parent's net income), special needs of the child, agreements for extra support, and federal tax consequences of claiming the child. The bill does not create new requirements but updates existing law to clarify when courts may adjust payments beyond the standard schedule. This directly affects parents and courts handling child support cases in South Dakota.

signed · South Dakota · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1064: provide for the sale of producer-raised meat and meat food products directly to consumers pending legalization under federal law.

HB 1064 allows South Dakota livestock producers to sell meat they raised and processed directly to end consumers in the state, pending federal legalization of such sales. The bill requires meat to be raised, slaughtered, and processed entirely within South Dakota, sold only to final consumers (not resold), and labeled with a warning that it’s uninspected and cannot be redistributed. It becomes effective only after the attorney general certifies that federal law permits such sales, either through new federal legislation or a court ruling declaring the current federal prohibition unconstitutional. This bill does not change current federal restrictions but prepares South Dakota for future direct-to-consumer sales once federal barriers are lifted.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 146: clarify the effect of the resignation of certain gubernatorial appointees.

SB 146 clarifies the rules when a gubernatorial appointee resigns from a board or commission requiring Senate confirmation. It states that the resigning appointee must continue serving until one of three events occurs: the Governor appoints a replacement with Senate consent, an interim appointment is made (requiring Senate action), or the resigning person sets an earlier departure date in writing. This applies specifically to boards/commissions whose members are appointed by the Governor with Senate consent, not to those exempted by law. The bill does not change who can be appointed but ensures continuity until a new appointment is finalized.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 163: repeal provisions related to the shared parenting child support cross credit.

SB 163 repeals South Dakota's "shared parenting child support cross credit" provision (§ 25-7-6.27), which previously allowed courts to adjust child support payments when children spent roughly equal time (180+ nights/year) with both parents. This repeal removes a specific calculation method that would reduce payments for noncustodial parents in equal-sharing custody arrangements by offsetting each parent's share based on income and parenting time. The bill directly affects parents in shared parenting custody cases who previously qualified for this adjustment. After this repeal, child support will be calculated using standard formulas without this cross-credit adjustment, meaning parents in equal-sharing arrangements will no longer have their payments reduced through this specific mechanism.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 160: require the registration of fishing guides.

SB 160 requires fishing guides in South Dakota to register annually with the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. It directly affects individuals who provide paid fishing guide services, imposing a $50 fee for residents and $250 for non-residents. Guides must submit daily electronic reports detailing trip dates, participants, locations, and fish species/numbers taken. Failure to register is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and fees collected fund fish restocking efforts based on reported catches. The bill establishes registration eligibility (age 21+, truthful application) and allows the Commission to deny or suspend registration for misrepresentation or missed reports.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 170: require the provision of a notice to consumers, interacting with certain chatbots or other human-simulating computer technologies that could mislead or deceive the consumer.

SB 170 requires businesses to provide a clear, upfront notice when consumers interact with chatbots, AI agents, or other technologies designed to mimic human conversation, preventing deception. It directly affects businesses using such technology in commercial transactions, mandating disclosure before interaction begins. Violations could result in actual damages, $1,000 per violation, or class-action limits of $10 million, with the attorney general able to seek enforcement. The law aims to ensure transparency in digital consumer interactions without restricting legitimate business use.

Topics ✓ Technology

died · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 169: place requirements on the use of artificial intelligence systems by health carriers in making determinations about the provision of health care services.

SB 169 requires South Dakota health insurers to follow specific rules when using artificial intelligence (AI) systems to make coverage decisions for health care services. The bill mandates that AI tools must base decisions on individual patient medical history, clinical circumstances, and relevant clinical data - not just group data - and must apply equally to all patients with similar needs. It also prohibits AI from denying or delaying coverage; only licensed doctors or healthcare professionals can make such final decisions after reviewing patient-specific details. Insurers must submit annual reports detailing AI usage and human oversight, and the state insurance division can inspect systems for compliance. This directly affects health insurers and their AI systems used in coverage determinations.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

died · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 182: address the tax situation in South Dakota.

This bill (SB 182) is a procedural resolution with no substantive tax policy details provided in the text. The bill merely states "The Legislature shall address the tax situation in South Dakota" in Section 1, without specifying any tax changes, mechanisms, or affected groups. No concrete provisions, affected entities, or policy mechanisms are described in the provided text. The title and minimal language indicate a directive to the legislature to consider tax matters, but no actual tax policy is outlined. Without additional bill text describing specific tax changes, a substantive summary cannot be created.

died · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 184: enhance public education in South Dakota.

This bill lacks substantive language or specific provisions. The text only states "The Legislature shall enhance public education in South Dakota" without defining how, what programs would be funded, or who would be affected. There are no key mechanisms, funding details, or concrete policy changes described in the provided text. As a result, no meaningful summary of its policy impact can be generated from the available information.

failed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 187: define nonpublic school.

SB 187 defines "nonpublic school" in South Dakota law as an institution operated by individuals or groups (not publicly elected boards) that teaches math and English fundamentals to children of compulsory school age, with English instruction focused on mastery. The bill specifies that such schools may limit enrollment, charge tuition, receive grants or services from school districts, but cannot claim geographic territory for tax revenue or receive state education aid under Chapter 13-13. It also clarifies that nonpublic schools are not required to be accredited or have certified teachers. This definition applies to all nonpublic schools in South Dakota, establishing their legal boundaries for funding and operations.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Education

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1211: create a digital registry identification card for medical cannabis patients.

HB 1211 creates a digital registry identification card for medical cannabis patients in South Dakota, replacing the current physical card. This digital card will be issued to qualifying patients and their designated caregivers who have received certification from a healthcare provider for a qualifying medical condition. The bill amends existing law to define "Cardholder" as someone possessing a valid digital registry card, which will be used to verify eligibility for medical cannabis use under state law. The change modernizes the verification process but does not alter the qualifying medical conditions or possession limits for patients.

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.

Bill results