South Dakota Bills

signed · South Dakota · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 1023: establish requirements and liability protection for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses serving on ambulance crews.

This bill (HB 1023) allows registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to serve on ambulance crews in South Dakota under specific conditions. It requires nurses to demonstrate competence in emergency care skills to medical or program directors before working on ambulances, and mandates that their care must stay within their license scope and be supervised. The bill also provides liability protection for RNs and LPNs for routine ambulance care, shielding them from most civil lawsuits unless the care involved gross negligence or willful misconduct. This directly affects ambulance services seeking to employ nurses and the nurses themselves who wish to provide emergency care on ambulances.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 1214: require that courts consider as a mitigating factor during sentencing an individual's history as a victim of abuse and provide for a reduced sentence in certain circumstances.

HB 1214 requires South Dakota courts to consider a defendant's history of abuse as a mitigating factor during sentencing for certain crimes. To qualify, defendants must provide documented evidence (such as court records, hospital reports, or protective orders) proving the abuse was a substantial factor in their offense. If approved, sentences are reduced: life without parole becomes a maximum of 35 years, life with parole becomes a maximum of 30 years, and fixed terms are reduced by at least one-third. The law excludes Class A felonies, sex offenses, and related attempts, and allows retroactive resentencing for cases before July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 112: establish a currency based on gold and silver.

SB 112 would recognize physical gold and silver coins (specie) as legal tender in South Dakota starting July 1, 2027. It allows private parties to use gold/silver for mutual debt payments and state/local governments to accept them for taxes/fees if they agree, though no one must accept them except by mutual agreement or through authorized electronic payment systems. The bill establishes definitions for "bullion depository" (secure storage for gold/silver) and "electronic payment system" (digital platforms backed by physical bullion), requiring the state treasurer to set rules for these systems. It directly affects residents, businesses, and government entities by adding gold/silver as an optional payment method under specific conditions. The state treasurer would designate storage facilities and authorize payment systems to enable transactions using physical gold/silver.

died · South Dakota · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 1156: extend each waterfowl hunting season for veterans and active duty personnel.

HB 1156 extends each waterfowl hunting season in South Dakota by two days specifically for veterans and active-duty military personnel. The bill requires the Game, Fish and Parks Commission to create rules allowing these individuals - defined as active duty members under §58-33-117 or veterans with non-dishonorable discharge - to hunt during this extended period. This change applies only to the season length; it does not alter existing license requirements, daily bag limits, or other hunting regulations. The bill directly affects eligible veterans and active-duty service members who participate in waterfowl hunting.

Topics ✓ Veterans

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 1109: allow for the expungement of records pertinent to dismissed protection order cases.

This bill allows courts to expunge all records related to dismissed protection order cases, directly affecting individuals whose petitions were rejected (either initially or after a hearing). If a court dismisses a petition under South Dakota law (specifically § 22-19A-8 for domestic violence orders or § 25-10-3 for civil orders), it may order the removal of all case records from court files and the Department of Social Services. The expungement process follows existing definitions in § 23A-3-26, ensuring records are permanently cleared without requiring additional court action beyond the dismissal.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 1282: provide for the admission of certain children younger than five years old to the kindergarten program of a school district.

HB 1282 allows South Dakota school districts to admit children younger than five to kindergarten under specific conditions. It requires districts to adopt policies admitting children who will turn five between September 1 and December 1 of the school year and who demonstrate readiness for kindergarten through cognitive and social assessments. Parents may transfer their child to another district if their home district does not adopt such a policy. The bill directly affects young children, their families, and school districts by creating a structured pathway for early kindergarten enrollment.

Topics ✓ Education

died · South Dakota · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 1296: permit a court to require that a defendant participate in global position monitoring as a condition of release for certain offenses.

HB 1296 requires courts to mandate GPS monitoring for defendants charged with domestic abuse offenses (as defined under South Dakota law) as a condition of release. The bill specifies that defendants must wear a 24/7 GPS device that tracks location in real-time and alerts law enforcement if they enter restricted zones, with defendants covering all device costs. Victims of domestic abuse can choose to receive free notification tools (via app or device) that alert them if the defendant approaches restricted areas or their location, but only after consenting and receiving clear information about the system. The law also mandates courts to consult victims about restricted zones and provide detailed explanations of the monitoring process, including risks, victim support services, and emergency contacts.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 1155: permit the state to invest in Bitcoin.

HB 1155 amends South Dakota's investment rules to allow the state to allocate up to 10% of its investment funds into Bitcoin. The bill specifically defines Bitcoin as a digital asset meeting strict network criteria (starting from its 2009 genesis block) and requires all Bitcoin holdings to be stored through secure custody solutions or qualified custodians. It applies only to state investment funds, not individual citizens or private entities, and explicitly prohibits investments in other digital assets like cryptocurrency exchanges. The bill does not authorize new spending but modifies existing investment guidelines to include Bitcoin under defined security and limit requirements.

Topics ✓ Technology

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 1177: replace the index used to calculate the salaries of members of the Legislature.

This bill (HB 1177) proposes to change the formula used to calculate salaries for South Dakota legislators. It would replace the current method - which ties salaries to 22% of the state's median household income (as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau) - with an unspecified new index. The bill does not specify what index would replace the current one, so the exact mechanism or impact cannot be described. The change would directly affect all members of the South Dakota Legislature by altering how their base salary is determined annually. (Note: The bill text provided does not name the replacement index, so key details are missing.)

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 1239: require that the Department of Education provide for the compensation of a teacher employed by a school district.

HB 1239 requires South Dakota's Department of Education to pay the full salary and benefits for all teachers employed by public school districts, replacing the previous system where districts covered these costs. The bill establishes a state-mandated salary schedule that must include increases based on a teacher's certification demand, highest degree, and years of experience, with benefits set at a minimum of 29% of salary. It also limits school districts from exceeding a target teacher ratio factor (calculated by enrollment size) without state approval. This directly affects all South Dakota public school districts and their teaching staff by shifting funding responsibility to the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 64: revise and repeal provisions related to the athletic commission.

SB 64 revises and clarifies definitions for combat sports in South Dakota, specifically updating terms related to boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts. It adds precise definitions for participants (e.g., "boxer," "mixed martial artist"), roles (e.g., "promoter," "manager"), and events (e.g., "competition," "sparring exhibition"). The bill amends existing law to confirm the South Dakota Athletic Commission’s authority to regulate these sports, including licensing, enforcing safety standards, and reporting event results. It directly affects the commission, athletes, promoters, and event organizers by clarifying the regulatory framework for combat sports events in the state. This is a procedural update to definitions and commission duties, not a substantive policy change.

signed · South Dakota · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 1033: update the reference to the Internal Revenue Code to reflect current federal law for the administration of higher education savings plans.

HB 1033 updates South Dakota's reference to the Internal Revenue Code in its higher education savings program (529 plans) to align with current federal law, specifically changing the cited date to January 1, 2026. It does not alter the program's rules, benefits, or eligibility for account owners, beneficiaries, or financial institutions managing these plans. The bill solely corrects a dated legal reference in the state statute to ensure administrative consistency with federal tax code provisions. This is a technical update with no impact on how the savings plans operate or who they serve.

Bill results