South Dakota Bills | MyRepTracker

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1307: limit the annual increase in assessed value of each owner-occupied single-family dwelling.

HB 1307 limits annual increases in the assessed value of owner-occupied single-family homes in South Dakota to a maximum of 3% per year for property taxes payable in 2027-2031. This applies to all such properties within a county, with exceptions allowing higher increases for new construction or property reclassified as owner-occupied. Counties must still follow other assessment rules under § 10-6-121. The law takes effect July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1281: reduce the sales and use tax rates on food, to increase the rates for certain taxes, use taxes, and excise taxes, and to provide a new fund for school district capital outlay projects.

HB 1281 reduces sales and use tax rates on non-prepared food (like groceries) for consumers while increasing tax rates on other items, including certain excise taxes and use taxes. The bill establishes a new fund specifically for school district capital projects, such as building construction or major equipment purchases. It defines "food" to exclude prepared meals (e.g., restaurant takeout), alcohol, tobacco, and candy, ensuring the tax cut applies only to basic grocery items. The policy shifts tax burden from grocery shoppers to other taxable goods and services to finance school infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 226: increase a limit on video lottery gaming, and to deposit moneys into a new fund.

SB 226 increases the payout limit for video lottery machines (allowing more than $1,000 per bet) and redirects excess revenue from video lottery gaming into a new fund. Specifically, after $165 million annually is deposited into the video lottery operating fund, any additional state share of video lottery revenue must go to the "residential tax reduction fund." This fund, administered by the Department of Revenue, provides property tax relief for owner-occupied single-family homes. The bill changes how video lottery revenue is distributed but does not alter the current 50% state share of net machine income.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1255: require that the Department of Health accept the medical records of a veteran applying for a medical cannabis registry identification card.

HB 1255 requires South Dakota's Department of Health to accept medical records from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) when veterans apply for a medical cannabis registry ID card. Veterans must submit VA records (within three years) showing a debilitating condition, along with proof of an honorable military discharge, to qualify under this provision. This eliminates the need for veterans to obtain a new certification from a South Dakota healthcare provider for the card application. The bill applies specifically to veterans meeting these documentation requirements, streamlining access to medical cannabis registry cards.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1256: require the promulgation of rules related to accessing the capitol complex and providing electronic card access to capitol access pass holders.

HB 1256 requires South Dakota's Bureau of Human Resources to create rules governing public access to the Capitol complex, including hours of operation, parking, and safety regulations. It also mandates that capitol access pass holders (such as state employees and contractors) can use electronic cards to enter all outside Capitol entrances. This directly affects pass holders and the public visiting the Capitol complex by changing access procedures. The bill focuses on administrative access rules without altering security policies.

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1324: abolish the State Board of Elections.

This bill (HB 1324) does not actually abolish the State Board of Elections, as its title claims. Instead, it amends South Dakota law regarding petition requirements for constitutional amendments and initiated measures. The bill specifies detailed formatting rules for petition documents (e.g., 14-point font for text, designated election dates) and requires petition sponsors to submit materials to the Secretary of State, not the State Board of Elections. It also mandates circulator handouts containing specific information about petition sponsors and circulator status. The bill directly affects individuals and groups seeking to place constitutional amendments or initiated measures on the ballot.

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1141: provide an additional means of determining the purchase price of a used motor vehicle acquired by gift or other transfer.

This bill amends South Dakota tax law to establish two specific methods for determining the purchase price of a used vehicle acquired by gift or other transfer with no or minimal payment. It directly affects individuals receiving vehicles this way, as it provides an alternative to the default tax assessment method. The key change allows taxpayers to use either the retail value from a nationally recognized dealers' guide (approved by the Secretary of Revenue) or a documented bill of sale showing the actual prior purchase price. This gives people a clearer path to prove the vehicle's value for excise tax purposes, potentially reducing their tax burden compared to the previous default of using the retail guide value.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 150: exempt one motor vehicle of a debtor from being taken by legal process.

SB 150 would amend South Dakota law to allow debtors who are heads of households to exempt one motor vehicle from being seized by creditors. The vehicle must be valued at $5,000 or less after accounting for any existing loan or security interest. This change modifies existing exemption rules (§ 43-45-4), adding the vehicle as a specific exempt asset alongside other personal property limits. The bill directly affects South Dakota residents facing debt collection who qualify as heads of families, providing a concrete safeguard for their primary transportation.

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1237: require age verification before an individual may access an application from an online application store, publicly available website, electronic service, or other online platform.

HB 1237 requires app stores and developers to verify the age of users before they can access applications, with specific rules for children under 16. App stores must determine age, obtain parental consent for minors, provide digital age signals (e.g., 13-15 or 16-17), and enable parental controls for time limits and activity monitoring. The law directly affects app stores (manufacturers), app developers, and users under 16, applying to platforms distributing apps like mobile app stores. Violations could result in $5,000 civil penalties per affected child, enforced by state attorneys general.

Topics ✓ Technology

passed both · South Dakota · House Feb 19, 2026

HCR 6011: encouraging the Executive Board of the Legislative Research Council to form an interim Neurohealth Safety Committee to study and assess the regulatory framework under which vapor product retail establishments operate.

HCR 6011 is a concurrent resolution urging South Dakota's Legislative Research Council to establish an interim committee. The committee would study unregulated vapor products (like e-cigarettes) and assess their health impacts, particularly on youth. This resolution does not create new laws but seeks to evaluate whether regulatory action is needed, based on concerns about the safety of these products and their increasing use among young people. The focus is on gathering information to inform future policy decisions.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 6: reduce the duration of an individual's reemployment benefits.

SB 6 reduces the maximum duration of reemployment benefits for eligible South Dakota workers. The bill amends Section 61-6-8 to shorten the standard benefit period from 26 weeks to a shorter duration (as specified in the amended statute). This directly affects individuals who qualify for state unemployment benefits by limiting how long they can receive payments. The key provision modifies the existing benefit calculation to decrease the total weeks available, without changing the weekly benefit amount. The bill does not address trade readjustment training extensions or base period wage calculations.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 233: prohibit the assessment of certain administrative fees or penalties related to the provision of care by an out-of-network provider.

SB 233 prohibits health insurance carriers from charging administrative fees or penalties to healthcare providers for care involving out-of-network providers. This directly affects health care providers who treat patients using out-of-network services and health carriers that typically impose such fees. The bill’s key provision bans carriers from assessing these fees for any care provided by a provider not contracted with the carrier (defined as "out-of-network"). It creates a clear policy change requiring carriers to cover such care without additional administrative costs to providers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare