HB 1294 prohibits any person from conducting geoengineering within South Dakota. The bill defines geoengineering as large-scale climate interventions, specifically including carbon dioxide removal or reflecting sunlight away from Earth. Violating this prohibition is classified as a Class 6 felony. This law directly affects individuals or entities attempting these specific climate interventions within the state. The bill establishes a clear criminal penalty for such actions, focusing on preventing large-scale atmospheric or oceanic climate modification.
HB 1117 modifies the reporting requirements for the Governor's Office of Economic Development regarding certain awards and grants from South Dakota's "Employer's Investment in South Dakota's Future Fund." The bill changes the frequency of the report from "biannual" to "twice each year," requiring the office to submit the same detailed report to specified legislative committees twice yearly instead of less frequently. The report must include recipient names, locations, funding purposes, economic impact measures, job creation numbers, fund balances, and status updates for awards/grants made over the past 20 years. This change affects the Governor's Office of Economic Development by altering how often it must provide these transparency reports to legislative committees. The bill does not alter the content or scope of the required information.
SB 92 clarifies the process for appealing or referring decisions made by county commissioners regarding land use or zoning changes. It directly affects county commissioners, residents, and petitioners who challenge or seek to refer such decisions. Key provisions require commissioners to publish adoption notices in a legal newspaper, with decisions taking effect 20 days later unless a referendum is triggered. The bill also specifies that rejection of requests follows separate procedures under existing law. This is a procedural clarification with no new policy changes.
HB 1097 appropriates $2 million from South Dakota's general fund to the Department of Corrections for a grant to a nonprofit delivering juvenile diversion programming in Sioux Falls. The nonprofit must provide an annual week-long summer camp for sixth graders identified by school resource officers (starting in 2026 for 10 years), along with three follow-up events per year involving participants, families, and law enforcement. The grant requires the nonprofit to report annual outcome measures to a special committee and includes a requirement for police and sheriff's office participation in all program activities. The funds are disbursed yearly starting in 2026, with unspent amounts reverting by June 2036.
HB 1055 updates South Dakota's official code of laws by revising references to the most current legal revisions. It specifies that the code now includes the 2026 revisions of certain volumes (like Volume 16 and 18), replaces outdated references (e.g., changing "2025" to "2026" in the text), and clarifies that the code's adoption does not affect prior legal matters. This is a procedural update, not a policy change, and directly affects how state laws are cited and organized for legal reference. It was introduced at the request of the Code Commission to maintain accurate legal documentation.
SB 22 clarifies the deadline for South Dakota's Department of Revenue to transmit tax assessment documents to county auditors. It specifies that failure to send these documents by the second Wednesday in August does not invalidate property taxes if the documents are delivered within a reasonable time afterward. This procedural bill directly affects the Department of Revenue and county auditors in handling property tax assessments. The change modifies existing law to provide clearer timing expectations without altering tax rates or assessment methods.
HB 1054 repeals the creation and budgeting requirements for South Dakota's Digital Dakota Network. The bill removes specific statutory provisions that established the network's structure, budgeting process, and the separate Office of Digital Dakota Network within the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications. It transfers all remaining network-related functions - including management, programming, and budgeting - directly to the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications. This change eliminates the network as a distinct program and ends the requirement for the Bureau to submit separate budgets for it. The bill directly affects the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications, which will now manage all telecommunications network operations under existing authority.
SB 38 increases annual fees for certain concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in South Dakota that process manure or wastewater under water pollution permits. It raises fees per animal for specific livestock, including dairy cows ($0.43 from $0.17), other cattle/bison ($0.30 from $0.12), and horses ($0.60 from $0.24). The bill directly affects CAFOs operating under water pollution control permits, excluding livestock auctions, out-of-state operations, and Indian country. The changes modify existing fee rates in Section 34A-2-125.1 of South Dakota law.
HB 1042 authorizes the construction of a National Guard vehicle maintenance shop in Sturgis, South Dakota, using $30 million in federal funds. The bill directs the Department of the Military to build and equip the facility, with oversight by the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration. It requires all funds to be spent by June 30, 2031, or revert to the state. The bill declares an emergency to expedite the project, directly affecting the South Dakota National Guard’s vehicle maintenance operations in Sturgis.
HB 1218 creates two new tax classifications for nonagricultural property in South Dakota: "commercial-operator" (for properties actively managed by owners/families) and "commercial-investor" (for other nonagricultural property). It requires property owners to apply annually by August 1st to qualify for the lower-tax "commercial-operator" status, proving they or a family member materially participate in the business. Owners who falsely claim eligibility face a Class 1 misdemeanor penalty. This directly affects commercial property owners, particularly family-run businesses seeking lower tax rates. The bill modifies existing tax code to define these categories and establish the reclassification process.
SB 168 regulates chatbots used by minors in South Dakota. It prohibits deployers (companies or developers) from making AI-companion chatbots - designed to form emotional bonds - available to minors without age verification (e.g., checking ID). Instead, deployers must implement age verification for such chatbots or remove all human-like features to allow minor access. Therapy chatbots may be offered to minors only with clear disclaimers, clinical evidence of safety/efficacy, and oversight by a licensed mental health professional who assesses suitability and monitors use. The bill also requires emergency response systems for crisis situations and limits data collection to necessary purposes.
HB 1198 requires operators of large energy facilities (20+ megawatts average electrical demand) to seek conditional use permits from adjacent counties or municipalities. This applies only if the facility is within one mile of the adjacent political subdivision's boundary and that subdivision has adopted zoning ordinances. The bill directly affects developers of high-energy projects, such as large solar or wind installations, seeking to build near county or city borders. It adds new permit requirements to South Dakota law without changing existing zoning authority. (3 sentences)
