South Dakota Bills

signed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 84: increase thresholds for the value of and eligibility for the partners in education scholarship.

SB 84 increases the income threshold for students to qualify for South Dakota's Partners in Education scholarship program. It raises the initial income requirement from 152% to a higher percentage of the national free/reduced-price lunch income standard (currently 152% for initial eligibility), directly affecting low-income students seeking tuition assistance at participating nonpublic schools. The bill maintains that students who qualify initially remain eligible for three years or until high school graduation without income checks, but must later meet a 250% income threshold to renew. This change expands access to the scholarship program by allowing more households to qualify under the new higher income cap.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

signed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 56: require that agencies promulgating permanent rules publish the rules and associated rulemaking forms on a state website.

SB 56 requires South Dakota state agencies to publish proposed permanent rules and key supporting documents - such as fiscal notes, small business impact statements, and public hearing notices - on a central state website at least 20 days before a public hearing. After the hearing, agencies must also post final rule details, hearing minutes, written comments, and corrected rule texts on the same website. This applies to all agencies creating new permanent rules and aims to increase public access to the rulemaking process. The website must be designated by the Governor and maintained by the executive department, streamlining transparency without altering rule content.

signed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 57: clarify when agency financial resource information must be filed in the permanent administrative rulemaking process.

SB 57 clarifies the financial information state agencies must submit when proposing a rule that increases a fee. It specifies that agencies must provide detailed records of their financial resources, including beginning and ending fund balances, receipts, and disbursements for the last two fiscal years, plus projected figures for the current and next fiscal year. This information must be filed with the Interim Rules Review Committee and code counsel as part of the rulemaking process before a public hearing. The requirement applies only to fee-increase proposals and does not alter other rulemaking procedures.

failed · South Dakota · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 1208: revise licensure provisions for electricians.

HB 1208 updates South Dakota's electrician licensure rules by requiring the State Electrical Commission to issue licenses both as physical cards and electronic equivalents. It sets specific fee limits: $150 maximum for exams, $100 for applications, and $35 for replacing lost licenses. The bill directly affects electricians, contractors, and businesses needing to hire licensed electrical workers by clarifying license formats and standardizing associated costs. These changes streamline licensing processes while ensuring fee transparency for applicants. The bill does not alter who must be licensed or the examination requirements.

died · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 185: amend the process by which moneys are distributed from the employer's investment in South Dakota's future fund.

SB 185 amends South Dakota's "employer's investment in South Dakota's future fund" to improve transparency and accountability in distributing funds for economic development. The bill requires business applicants to submit detailed business plans - including job descriptions, compensation, and other funding sources - before receiving grants. It limits funding to actual project costs, mandates matching commitments from applicants, and requires the Governor's Office of Economic Development to publicly report biannually on each grant (including recipient details, project purpose, and jobs created). These changes apply directly to businesses, educational institutions, and workforce programs seeking fund support for research, infrastructure, or economic development projects within the state.

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 6, 2026

HCR 6008: requesting the attorney general file a lawsuit against the People's Republic of China and related parties to seek damages related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

HCR 6008 is a South Dakota resolution requesting the Attorney General to sue China, the Chinese Communist Party, and a Wuhan lab for $100 billion in damages related to the pandemic's origin. It directly affects South Dakota residents who suffered pandemic-related losses like medical costs, business closures, or income loss. The resolution proposes creating a state fund to distribute up to $250,000 per person to affected residents using any damages secured through the lawsuit. This is a procedural request to the Attorney General, not a binding law.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 202: require that the owner of a motor vehicle removed from a body of water pay the removal costs.

SB 202 requires vehicle owners to pay for removing their vehicles from bodies of water in South Dakota. It applies specifically to owners who intentionally abandon vehicles on public roads, drive vehicles into lakes or streams causing disablement, or drive onto frozen water that breaks through. The law makes owners civilly liable for both towing/removal costs and any associated storage fees under existing law. This bill directly affects vehicle owners whose actions result in a vehicle being submerged or disabled in water, shifting the financial responsibility from public agencies to the owner.

signed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 5: require the disclosure of whether a ballot question was proposed by initiative or by the Legislature.

SB 5 requires South Dakota to clearly disclose on ballots whether a proposed constitutional amendment or law was initiated by the Legislature or by a citizen petition. The bill amends election laws to mandate that ballot titles for both types of measures must include a specific disclosure: "proposed by the Legislature" for legislative proposals, and "proposed by a citizen-initiated petition" for initiative measures. This disclosure must appear directly after the title and before the attorney general's explanation and fiscal note on the ballot. The law applies to all ballot questions submitted for voter approval, ensuring voters can immediately see the origin of each measure.

died · South Dakota · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 238: authorize the removal of occupants from certain short-term lodging accommodations, and to provide a penalty therefor.

SB 238 allows hotels, campgrounds, and RV parks in South Dakota to request that guests leave if they fail to check out or pay by the scheduled time. Before removing a guest, the lodging must provide a written or electronic notice, giving them 24 hours to depart. If a guest refuses to leave after this notice, they face a Class 1 misdemeanor charge. Guests wrongly removed can sue for damages and legal fees. The law directly affects short-term lodging businesses and their guests who miss check-out deadlines.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

introduced · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HC 8007: recognizing Scouting America Day at the Capitol and celebrating Scouting America for one hundred sixteen years of service to American youth.

This bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Scouting America's 116 years of service to youth in South Dakota and the U.S. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the organization's founding in 1910 and its mission to develop character and leadership through programs for young people. The resolution specifically celebrates Scouting America's impact on over 130 million youth and its ongoing work supporting South Dakota families. It has no direct effect on individuals or communities beyond the symbolic recognition by the South Dakota legislature.

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1050: increase civil penalties for commercial driver violations.

HB 1050 increases civil fines for commercial drivers who violate safety regulations. It raises penalties to $3,963 for a first conviction and $7,926 for repeat offenses for drivers violating out-of-service orders. Employers face fines of $7,157-$39,617 for certain violations, such as allowing unsafe driving practices. The bill directly affects commercial drivers and their employers by imposing higher financial consequences for safety rule breaches. These changes apply to specific violations under South Dakota’s commercial driver safety laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1122: provide for the licensure of certain fishing guides, and to provide a penalty therefor.

This bill requires individuals who provide paid fishing guide services to the public to obtain an annual license from South Dakota's Department of Game, Fish and Parks, effective July 1, 2027. To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, maintain $1 million in liability insurance, and pay a $150 fee for residents. The license requirement does not apply to guiding services provided exclusively on the individual's own property. Operating without a license is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with each client served considered a separate offense.

Bill results