This South Dakota bill (SB 74) transfers $56,153,769 from the budget reserve fund and $41,874,757 from the general revenue replacement fund directly into the state's general fund. These transfers are intended to support state government operations and public institutions. The bill declares an emergency to allow these fund movements to take effect immediately upon approval, bypassing standard budget procedures. The action affects the state's budget structure by reallocating existing reserves without creating new taxes or spending programs.
HB 1051 revises South Dakota school districts' property tax limits and updates state funding formulas. It sets new maximum tax rates: $4.22 per $1,000 of property value for general funds, $1.13 for agricultural land, and $2.51 for owner-occupied homes, all based on valuations at 85% of market value. The bill also changes how school enrollment is calculated for state aid, clarifying that students in state custody (e.g., foster care) count toward enrollment and adding rules for tuition payments. These changes directly affect all South Dakota public school districts by altering their tax capacity and state funding calculations.
South Dakota's SB 96 allows counties to impose a 0.5% sales tax on taxable goods, digital products, and services (following state sales tax rules). All revenue from this county-level tax must go into a dedicated "property tax reduction fund." The fund is used to reduce property taxes on owner-occupied homes first, then agricultural and other land types, with all reductions applied equally across qualifying properties. Counties must adopt an ordinance to implement the tax and may hold a voter referendum on the proposal.
SB 69 appropriates $5 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety for purchasing a new Highway Patrol airplane, related mission equipment, and installation. This bill directly affects the Highway Patrol division by funding equipment upgrades for aerial operations. The key mechanism is a specific budget allocation with a requirement that unspent funds revert per state procedures. The bill also declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon approval.
SB 135 requires data center operators to pay all electricity costs associated with their facilities, preventing utilities from raising residential rates to cover these expenses (Section 3). It also prohibits tax exemptions for data centers (Section 5) and ensures local governments retain authority to regulate data center development (Section 4). The bill mandates data centers to report projected water usage to local providers and the Board of Water Management before operation, with annual reports on actual consumption (Sections 6-7), ensuring water allocation prioritizes residential and essential services. This directly affects data center operators, utilities, and South Dakota residents by limiting cost-shifting and protecting local resource management.
HB 1193 requires South Dakota counties to refund property taxes to disabled veterans and surviving spouses who qualify for tax exemptions under §§ 10-4-40 and 10-4-41 but missed application deadlines. The bill amends § 10-18-1 to explicitly allow refunds for the difference in taxes paid over the previous four years when eligibility requirements are otherwise met. This applies to veterans rated permanently and totally disabled from service-connected disabilities and their surviving spouses (including those receiving VA dependency compensation). The refund mechanism ensures counties must recalculate taxes and return overpayments when the only barrier was a missed deadline. It does not change eligibility criteria but adds a procedural remedy for administrative errors.
This bill appropriates $5 million from the general fund to provide grants for volunteer fire departments in South Dakota to purchase safety gear (like helmets and suits) for their firefighters. It specifically targets departments where at least 70% of firefighters volunteer, prioritizing those with the greatest equipment needs. The Department of Public Safety will distribute funds based on application timing and need, with unspent funds reverting by June 2030. An emergency declaration allows the funding to take effect immediately upon passage.
SB 240 appropriates $5 million from South Dakota's general fund to create a rural access infrastructure fund, directly affecting all counties by providing funding for infrastructure improvements on township and county secondary roads. Funds are distributed to counties based on their proportion of small structures (like bridges or culverts) on these roads relative to the statewide total, calculated using data reported to the Department of Transportation. The bill requires the Department of Revenue to distribute no more than one-third of the funds annually across fiscal years 2026-2028, with unspent funds reverting by June 2031. It declares an emergency to expedite implementation, focusing solely on the concrete funding mechanism and distribution rules without advocating for outcomes.
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.
HB 1139 is a budget bill appropriating funds for South Dakota's regular operations during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It allocates money to cover everyday costs for all three branches of state government (legislative, judicial, executive), state institutions, interest on the state debt, and common schools. The bill specifies exact funding levels for each department and program but does not create new policies or alter existing programs. It serves as the primary funding mechanism for routine state functions, ensuring continued operation of government services and public education.
