South Dakota Bills | MyRepTracker

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 1240: establish requirements for the distribution and sale of vapor products, and to provide a penalty therefor.

HB 1240 requires businesses distributing or selling vapor products (like e-cigarettes) in South Dakota to obtain licenses from the Department of Revenue. Distributors must pay a $100 fee and keep transaction records for three years, while retailers must pay $250, verify customer ages at checkout using a third-party system, and maintain proof that products came from a licensed distributor. The bill also restricts the sale of non-tobacco, non-mint, and non-menthol flavored vapor products to stores that limit access to customers 21 and older and earn at least 25% of revenue from vapor and tobacco products. Violating these rules can result in misdemeanor charges, with penalties including fines.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 144: provide property tax relief to certain senior owners of owner-occupied single-family dwellings.

SB 144 provides property tax relief to South Dakota seniors meeting specific criteria: individuals aged 65+ who have owned an owner-occupied single-family home for 10+ years, lived in the state for 25+ years, and have no delinquent property taxes. The bill establishes a property tax assessment freeze, locking the taxable value of qualifying homes at either the 2020 value or the value when the homeowner first qualified, preventing increases due to rising market values. Homeowners must apply through county treasurers with required documentation, and the freeze applies annually as long as the homeowner continues to meet eligibility. This directly affects eligible senior homeowners in South Dakota who own and reside in single-family homes meeting the defined residency and ownership requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 127: limit nuisances caused by data centers.

SB 127 limits data center operations to reduce disruptions for nearby residents. It prohibits new data centers within one mile of residential areas (though local governments can set stricter rules) and caps continuous noise at 45 decibels near residential property lines. The bill defines data centers broadly to include cloud services, cryptocurrency mining, and streaming platforms. Violations would be deemed legal nuisances, allowing state attorneys or affected residents to seek court orders to stop the disruptions.

Topics ✗ Technology

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 195: repeal the expiration of a reduction in certain gross receipts and use tax rates.

SB 195 repeals the scheduled expiration of reduced gross receipts and use tax rates established in 2023. It prevents these tax rate reductions from reverting to prior rates after June 30, 2027. The bill directly affects businesses in South Dakota that pay these specific taxes, ensuring the lower rates remain in effect without requiring new legislation. This is a procedural change to maintain existing tax policy, not a new tax rate adjustment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 1196: provide for the participation of delegates from this state in an Article V convention, and to provide a penalty therefor.

HB 1196 establishes rules for South Dakota's participation in an Article V constitutional convention. It requires delegates to swear an oath pledging not to support "unauthorized amendments" (those outside the convention's stated purpose) and mandates immediate recall by the Secretary of State if they violate this rule. The bill also sets qualifications for delegates, including residency requirements, voter registration, and disqualifications for recent federal employees or lobbyists. It specifies that South Dakota will not participate if the convention does not guarantee equal voting power per state. The law aims to ensure delegates strictly adhere to the convention's defined scope.

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 1010: modify requirements regarding the use of a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle.

HB 1010 modifies South Dakota's law banning mobile device use while driving by adding specific exceptions to the existing prohibition. It allows hands-free navigation (without manual entry), limited phone call functions (like dialing or answering), emergency communications (911 calls, reporting accidents/crimes), and handheld device use while operating agricultural equipment under 25 mph (excluding trucks). The law directly affects all drivers in South Dakota, with exemptions for first responders during emergencies and specific scenarios like navigation or agricultural work. Violations remain Class 2 misdemeanors, but the bill clarifies permitted uses to reduce unintended penalties.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1289: modify requirements to create a tax increment financing district.

HB 1289 modifies South Dakota's rules for creating tax increment financing (TIF) districts, which local governments use to fund development projects by capturing future tax growth in designated areas. The bill changes the requirement that a district's assessed value plus existing TIF districts cannot exceed 10.5% (previously 50%) of a political subdivision's total taxable property value. It also revises the criteria for designating a TIF district, requiring that either 25% of the district's area be blighted or 50% must stimulate economic development, and adds new consent rules: counties need municipal approval to create a TIF within city limits, and cities need county approval for TIFs spanning county areas. These changes directly affect counties and municipalities seeking to establish TIF districts for economic development projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Housing

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1312: limit annual valuation increases on owner-occupied single-family dwellings and provide an exception for mill rate limitations on taxing districts.

HB 1312 limits annual increases in the assessed value of owner-occupied single-family homes to an inflation-based index, preventing rapid tax hikes for homeowners. It applies only to homes where the owner lives, not rentals or commercial properties. The bill requires full reassessment at market value when a home is sold (capped at sale price), and allows limited value increases for property improvements or changes in use. Taxing districts must maintain revenue levels from 2025 or earlier, adjusted for inflation, to avoid exceeding mill rate limits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1319: update provisions related to tax increment financing districts.

HB 1319 updates tax rules for new or renovated properties in designated areas. It allows county commissioners to use a special formula for up to five years after construction to partially or fully exclude new property value from taxes, but this applies only to specific qualifying properties like new industrial buildings ($30k+ value), affordable housing (meeting income rent limits), or commercial renovations ($30k+ value). The law explicitly excludes properties within tax increment financing districts from this tax relief. After five years, these properties must be taxed at standard rates like other properties. This directly affects developers and property owners building qualifying structures in eligible zones.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1247: lower the cost threshold at which a tax increment finance base must be redetermined.

HB 1247 (South Dakota House Bill 1247) lowers the cost threshold requiring municipalities to recalculate the tax increment finance (TIF) base for development projects. Currently, if project costs exceed 35% of the original plan, the TIF base must be redetermined; this bill reduces that threshold to 15%. It directly affects South Dakota municipalities using TIF districts to fund infrastructure or development, requiring them to reassess the TIF base more frequently for smaller cost increases. The change applies to projects where additional costs exceed 15% of the original budget, ensuring the TIF base reflects actual project expenses sooner.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 209: authorize the creation of land banks.

SB 209 authorizes local governments in South Dakota (like counties or municipalities) to create nonprofit "land banks" to address abandoned, blighted, or vacant properties. These land banks, established through a local ordinance, can acquire, manage, and develop such properties to return them to productive use - such as through redevelopment, sale, or lease. Key mechanisms include allowing land banks to sue, borrow funds, handle foreclosures, collect rent, and partner with other entities. The bill provides a clear legal framework for creating these entities but does not mandate their use or specify which properties qualify beyond the defined categories.

Topics ✓ Housing

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1277: require that campgrounds and campground additions, alterations, and modifications comply with National Fire Protection Association standards.

HB 1277 requires private campgrounds (excluding state or local government-owned facilities) to comply with NFPA 1194, the National Fire Protection Association's 2026 standard for recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds. This applies specifically to existing campgrounds and any new additions, alterations, or modifications that require department notice under existing law. The law takes effect on July 1, 2027, mandating that these facility changes meet fire safety standards set by NFPA. It directly affects campground operators who make structural changes needing regulatory review.