Healthcare

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1112: modify the definition of an electronic smoking device.

HB 1112 modifies South Dakota's definition of "electronic smoking device" to explicitly include any device containing or delivering nicotine (or other substances with nicotine) intended for human consumption. This change clarifies that e-cigarettes, vape pens, e-cigars, and similar devices delivering nicotine fall under the definition, regardless of other substances they may contain. The amendment directly affects tobacco businesses selling these products and enforcement of existing laws regulating electronic smoking devices. The bill does not create new restrictions but ensures the definition aligns with how such devices are commonly used and marketed.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies nicotine device definition to strengthen public health regulations under public health safety, directly addressing health risks from nicotine products.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1127: revise provisions related to birth centers and the practice of certified professional midwives at birth centers.

HB 1127 revises South Dakota's regulations for birth centers and certified professional midwives. It requires birth centers to obtain a license from the Department of Health (with a $500 fee), mandates risk assessments to confirm low-risk pregnancies before admission, and requires written care plans addressing each client's medical and emotional needs. The bill also mandates that a practitioner or registered nurse be on-site during active labor and repeals the previous requirement that birth centers be within 30 minutes of a hospital. These changes directly affect birth centers, certified midwives, and patients seeking care at these facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates safety protocols (risk assessments, on-site care) and regulated standards for birth centers, enhancing patient safety and access to midwifery services within healthcare framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1212: revise provisions in order to strengthen protections for unborn children.

HB 1212 repeals a provision that previously shielded women from criminal liability for unlawful abortions. It removes the exception that prevented homicide charges when an abortion caused an unborn child's death, making such cases subject to standard homicide laws (Class B felony). The bill directly affects women seeking abortions and medical providers performing them, as it eliminates prior legal protections for abortion-related deaths. Exceptions for lifesaving procedures to preserve the mother's life or spontaneous miscarriages remain unchanged.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by removing abortion-related death exception, subjecting cases to homicide laws (Class B felony), directly increasing criminal liability.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill removes legal protections for abortion-related deaths, subjecting providers to homicide charges and restricting access to abortion services, a core healthcare component.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · South Dakota · House Jan 29, 2026

HB 1085: establish provisions for the coverage of nonopioid prescription drugs.

HB 1085 requires South Dakota health insurers to cover nonopioid prescription drugs for pain treatment when prescribed by a doctor, without denying coverage in favor of opioids. Insurers cannot impose stricter approval steps (like prior authorization) or higher cost-sharing tiers for nonopioid drugs compared to opioids or narcotics. This directly affects patients seeking pain management and insurers operating in South Dakota, ensuring equal coverage treatment for nonopioid options when clinically appropriate. The law applies to all health insurance policies sold or renewed in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal insurance coverage for nonopioid pain drugs vs opioids, removing barriers to patient access and promoting safer pain management options.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · South Dakota · House Jan 29, 2026

HB 1044: make an appropriation to implement the rural health transformation program, and to declare an emergency.

This bill appropriates $500 million in federal funds to the South Dakota Department of Health to implement the rural health transformation program, authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. L. No. 119-21). It directly affects rural healthcare providers and facilities by funding program implementation. Key provisions include requiring the health secretary to approve vouchers for payments and mandating unspent funds by June 30, 2031, to revert per state law. The bill also declares an emergency to expedite its implementation upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $500M federal funds for rural health program, directly funding essential healthcare services through state budget mechanisms per bill's core purpose.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill appropriates $500M in federal funds to implement rural health transformation program, directly funding healthcare services for rural providers per health care subject and appropriation provisions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

failed · South Dakota · House Jan 29, 2026

HJR 5002: proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, repealing the requirement to provide expanded medicaid.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to remove South Dakota's legal requirement to provide expanded Medicaid coverage. It specifically targets Section 10 of Article XXI, which currently mandates that the state provide Medicaid benefits to adults aged 18-65 with incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level. If approved by voters, the amendment would eliminate this constitutional obligation, allowing the state to potentially modify or discontinue the expanded eligibility rules. The change directly affects low-income South Dakota adults who currently qualify under the existing Medicaid expansion.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRepeals constitutional mandate for expanded Medicaid, removing legal obligation to cover low-income adults, thus restricting access and weakening coverage requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · South Dakota · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SCR 603: supporting the secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture in establishing a working group of nutrition experts to determine national standards for foods and beverages purchased with supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits.

South Dakota's Senate Concurrent Resolution 603 supports the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in establishing a federal working group of nutrition experts to develop evidence-based national standards for foods and beverages that can be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The resolution does not create new law but urges Congress to pass legislation implementing the working group’s recommendations, which would align SNAP purchasing rules with current nutrition science and dietary guidelines. It directly affects the federal SNAP program, which provides food assistance to millions of low-income Americans, including South Dakota residents. The resolution emphasizes that national standards require federal action to ensure consistency, avoid state administrative costs, and prevent future policy reversals. This is a supportive measure for federal policy development, not a direct change to SNAP benefits or eligibility.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSupports SNAP nutrition standards to improve public health outcomes through evidence-based food purchasing guidelines, aligning with public health program enhancements.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · South Dakota · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 1039: provide requirements related to the cardiac health evaluation of minors.

HB 1039 requires all students participating in school sports to undergo a pre-participation physical exam within one year of the season start. The exam must include heart health questions about the student's personal and family history, documented on a state-approved form signed by a licensed healthcare provider. Schools must collect these forms before students can join athletic activities. Additionally, the Department of Health must create and distribute educational materials about sudden cardiac arrest to all school districts and healthcare providers, outlining screening guidelines and symptoms requiring specialist referral. This bill directly affects minors in school sports, their schools, and healthcare practitioners conducting these evaluations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates cardiac screenings for student athletes and requires health education materials, advancing public health safety in healthcare.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · South Dakota · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 1053: require that terminal care facilities allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis.

HB 1053 requires terminal care facilities (hospitals, inpatient hospice, or residential hospice) to permit terminally ill patients with a medical cannabis card to store and use medical cannabis within the facility. It mandates that patients provide their registry card and a physician's note documenting the need, while prohibiting smoking or vaping on-site. Facilities must establish policies for administration and storage but are not required to procure or administer cannabis. This applies only to patients with a terminal condition (life expectancy under one year) and excludes emergency departments. The bill does not override federal enforcement actions against facilities that comply with federal law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows terminally ill patients in healthcare facilities access to medical cannabis treatment, expanding patient access to approved medical options within care settings.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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