South Dakota Bills

introduced · South Dakota · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SC 807: recognizing and honoring custodial staff across the State of South Dakota for their dedication and service.

This bill (SC 807) is a symbolic legislative commemoration honoring custodial staff across South Dakota for their work. It formally recognizes their role in maintaining clean, safe environments in schools, healthcare facilities, businesses, and public spaces. The bill does not create new laws, policies, or funding - its sole purpose is to express official appreciation for their dedication. It directly affects all custodial staff in the state through this public acknowledgment, with no concrete policy changes or requirements.

died · South Dakota · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1128: exempt certain nonresident military personnel from payment of motor vehicle excise tax.

HB 1128 exempts vehicles owned by South Dakota residents who previously paid motor vehicle excise tax in the state and later moved away. It specifically applies to individuals who return to South Dakota and can prove prior tax payment through department records or other acceptable documentation. The bill amends South Dakota law to add this scenario as a new exemption category under motor vehicle tax rules. It does not apply to active-duty military personnel or nonresidents generally, as the bill focuses solely on returning former residents with documented prior tax payments. The change simplifies tax obligations for this specific group when they repurchase or return to owning a vehicle in South Dakota.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · South Dakota · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1124: establish the crime of trespass upon a place of worship, provide a penalty therefor, and declare an emergency.

HB 1124 makes it a felony to enter or remain within 1,000 feet of a place of worship with intent to disrupt services, harass attendees, or intimidate through political means. Violators face a Class 5 felony charge. The bill defines "place of worship" as any building regularly used for religious activities, identifiable by design, signs, or features. This law directly affects individuals who intentionally trespass near religious sites with the prohibited intentions.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1114: require that certain mental health information be submitted to and subsequently removed from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

HB 1114 requires South Dakota to submit specific mental health information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for three groups: individuals acquitted by reason of insanity, those found incompetent to stand trial, and people involuntarily committed as dangers to self or others. The bill mandates that this information be transmitted to NICS within one business day but automatically removed after 18 months. It also requires notifying the affected person or their guardian about both the submission and removal. The law prohibits including diagnosis or treatment details in the reports, focusing solely on identifying information.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 143: require that the Department of Health annually report on public health effects of cannabis use.

SB 143 requires South Dakota's Department of Health to submit an annual report to the legislature by March 1 each year, focusing on public health impacts of cannabis use. The report must include specific data like medical cannabis program expenses/revenues, cannabis-related poisonings, drug-related deaths with cannabis metabolites detected, hospitalizations, licensing violations, and patient demographics. It directly affects the Department of Health (as the reporting entity) and the legislature (as the recipient of the data). The bill mandates concrete data collection on public health outcomes without changing cannabis laws or regulations.

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1154: establish public benefit corporations in South Dakota.

HB 1154 establishes a new legal structure for for-profit corporations in South Dakota called "public benefit corporations." These corporations must formally commit to pursuing either a general public benefit (affecting society/environment broadly) or a specific public benefit (targeting a particular group), and their names must include "general benefit corporation" (GBC) or "specific benefit corporation" (SBC). Existing for-profit corporations can convert to this status by amending their articles of incorporation and obtaining shareholder approval with a two-thirds vote ("minimum status vote"). The bill directly affects for-profit businesses seeking to legally prioritize social/environmental impact alongside profit, while excluding nonprofits and requiring clear public benefit commitments in corporate governance.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 104: require the reimbursement of therapy using equine movement through the state medicaid program.

SB 104 requires South Dakota's Medicaid program to reimburse licensed therapists for equine-assisted therapy. The bill mandates reimbursement for physical therapists, occupational therapists, or speech-language pathologists who provide therapy using horse-human interactions to help patients meet treatment goals. This applies to Medicaid recipients and requires the state to submit a federal plan amendment by August 1, 2026, to implement the coverage. The law specifically defines "therapy using equine movement" as therapeutic activities leveraging horse interactions to achieve clinical objectives.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · South Dakota · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1178: establish provisions for homeownership through shared equity agreements.

HB 1178 establishes a legal framework for shared equity homeownership in South Dakota. It allows investors to contribute up to 30% of a home's purchase price toward a buyer's down payment and mortgage, in exchange for a shared ownership interest recorded with the county. The agreement requires the homebuyer (occupant-owner) to maintain a fixed-rate mortgage, cover all maintenance/taxes, and retain full title during the agreement's term (up to 15 years), with the option to buy out the investor early. Upon termination (e.g., mortgage maturity, home sale, or buyer buyout), the home is appraised to determine repayment to the investor based on current market value. This directly affects homebuyers seeking financial assistance and investors providing capital for eligible single-family residences.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 24: create a solid background license plate for South Dakota.

SB 24 creates a new solid black or solid white license plate option for South Dakota residents. It allows owners of eligible vehicles (cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles) with valid licenses to purchase these plates for a $100 annual fee. Of this fee, $25 funds a special revenue account and $75 supports the state highway fund. Personalization is available for an extra $25, and plates can be transferred like existing specialty plates.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1185: require that a voter use a black ink ballpoint pen when marking an optical scan ballot.

HB 1185 requires voters using optical scan ballots in South Dakota to mark their choices with a black ink ballpoint pen instead of a pencil. This change directly affects voters who cast ballots using optical scan machines at polling locations. The bill amends existing election law to specify that only black ink ballpoint pens are permitted for marking these ballots, replacing the previous allowance for pencils or other marking instruments.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 85: require an election for an excess tax levy of a school district.

SB 85 requires South Dakota school districts to hold a voter election before implementing or increasing an "excess tax levy" (property tax increases beyond the base amount). This applies to both general fund and capital outlay tax levies, meaning school boards can no longer unilaterally approve such increases - they must now seek voter approval through a formal election. The bill mandates specific public notice requirements (e.g., newspaper ads or mailed notices) and allows voters to petition for an election if 5% of registered voters sign a petition. The election must be held by October 1st of the year prior to tax payment, ensuring taxpayers have a direct say in local property tax changes.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 173: extend the motor vehicle and motorcycle licensing fee available to a veteran with a disability to the spouse of a veteran with a disability.

SB 173 would amend South Dakota law to extend the fee exemption for motor vehicle and motorcycle license plates currently available to veterans with disabilities to include their spouses. Under the current law (§ 32-5-157.1), disabled veterans may obtain special plates without paying standard fees if they meet specific disability criteria. This bill would add "the spouse of a veteran with a disability" to the eligibility list for the same fee exemption. The change directly affects spouses of veterans who have a disability, allowing them to qualify for the same license plate fee benefit as the veterans themselves.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Bill results