This bill updates South Dakota's search and seizure laws to explicitly include digital currency as "property" covered by existing warrant procedures. It defines digital currency as value recorded on blockchain or similar distributed ledger technology (e.g., Bitcoin). The change ensures law enforcement must follow standard warrant processes when seeking digital currency, aligning it with how physical property is treated under current law. This directly affects law enforcement investigations involving digital assets and individuals holding such currency.
HB 1027 updates South Dakota's pipeline safety law to reference current federal regulations instead of outdated ones. It specifically changes date references in two sections (§ 49-34B-1 and § 49-34B-3) from "January 1, 2023" to "January 1, 2026" to align with the latest federal pipeline safety rules under 49 C.F.R. parts 191-193 and 199. This affects the Public Utilities Commission (which enforces pipeline safety) and pipeline operators who must comply with these standards. The bill makes no new safety requirements - it only ensures South Dakota's law correctly cites the applicable federal rules.
SB 17 prohibits South Dakota political candidates and committees from accepting campaign contributions or loans from foreign nationals, as defined by federal law (52 U.S.C. § 30121(b)). It directly affects state election participants by banning these foreign financial interactions. Violations carry penalties: a Class 2 misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class 1 misdemeanor or felony for repeat offenses within a year. The bill amends existing campaign finance law (§ 12-27-21) to add this prohibition and includes an emergency declaration for immediate implementation.
HB 1049 prohibits entities from certain countries (as defined by existing law) or non-U.S. citizens from owning, operating, or controlling electric facilities in South Dakota, including power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. It requires prohibited persons who already own such facilities to sell their interest within one year and bans agreements that would grant them indirect control. The Public Utilities Commission can investigate violations, seek court action to enforce divestiture or forfeit facilities, and recover legal costs. The bill explicitly excludes cases where a facility's ownership issue stems solely from the former owner's nationality.
SB 133 amends South Dakota's administrative law to strengthen legislative oversight of agency rulemaking. It clarifies that a "major rule" is defined as one likely to cost businesses, individuals, or local governments over $1 million in implementation or compliance costs over five years. The bill requires the Interim Rules Review Committee to establish an annual public meeting schedule by the first Monday after the legislative session ends and mandates all committee meetings be open with public input opportunities. This directly affects state agencies creating rules (like departments or commissions) and the committee tasked with reviewing them. The changes aim to formalize the committee's review process and ensure public transparency for rules with significant economic impacts.
HB 1180 allows business owners in jointly owned entities to include enforceable non-compete restrictions when transferring ownership interests. The bill permits agreements that prevent a selling owner from competing in the same business within the entity's specific geographic area for up to three years after the transfer. This applies specifically to terms included in ownership transfer contracts or business governing documents, not general employment agreements. The law directly affects business owners selling stakes in jointly held companies and the buyers purchasing those interests.
SB 130 appropriates $8 million from South Dakota's general fund to the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority. The funds must cover public roadway and infrastructure improvements directly needed due to construction at Ellsworth Air Force Base, including road reconstruction, safety upgrades, and traffic studies. The authority must report annually on how funds were used and cannot spend more than 3% of the appropriation on administrative costs. This bill specifically affects infrastructure supporting Ellsworth Air Force Base operations and surrounding public roads.
SB 88 clarifies the process for entities seeking to examine private property for public projects (like utility lines) without the owner's permission. It requires such entities to provide 30 days' written notice detailing the property area, timing, and purpose, and pay for any damage caused - $500 upfront for common carrier projects. Property owners can challenge the examination in court within 30 days of receiving notice. The bill applies only to projects needing a siting permit (e.g., utilities), not state entities, and defines "examination" as a minimally invasive inspection causing minor soil disturbance.
HB 1102 reschedules the annual report filing deadline for limited liability companies (LLCs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) in South Dakota. The bill changes the current requirement for reports to be filed by January 31st each year to a new date (the specific new date is not provided in the bill text). This procedural change directly affects all LLCs and LLPs operating in South Dakota that must file annual reports with the Secretary of State. The bill does not alter the content or substance of the reports, only the timing of the filing obligation.
SB 124 bans the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products containing cell-cultured protein in South Dakota from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2036. It directly affects food businesses, restaurants, and retailers selling such products, defining "cell-cultured protein" as any human food product grown from animal cells outside a live animal (excluding fermented foods, pharmaceuticals, and similar non-meat products). Violations are classified as Class 2 misdemeanors, with the state department authorized to inspect food establishments, issue stop-sale orders, and potentially suspend business licenses upon conviction. The law creates a 10-year temporary prohibition without specifying broader regulatory changes beyond this ban.
SB 40 revises South Dakota's rules on foreign ownership of agricultural land. It clarifies that foreign entities (including foreign governments and individuals) cannot own more than 160 acres of agricultural land, except for land inherited or held as security for debt. The bill requires foreign landowners to submit copies of their federal reports (under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act) to the state Department of Agriculture, with a civil penalty of up to 10% of the land's fair market value for failing to report. Violations of ownership limits may result in land forfeiture or lease termination, enforced by the Attorney General.
HB 1234 revises how subpoenas for document production must be served in contested legal cases. It requires that before serving a subpoena, the person issuing it must first provide notice and a copy to all parties involved in the case. The bill also gives hearing examiners or administrative law judges the authority to cancel or change unreasonable subpoenas, or to require the subpoenaing party to cover the reasonable costs of document production if they deny a motion to quash. This affects parties in contested cases and those seeking documents through subpoenas, changing the procedural steps for service and review.
