HB 1274 prohibits the delivery or distribution of abortion-inducing medicine, drugs, or substances into South Dakota for purposes of an illegal abortion, with exceptions for self-administration by a pregnant person, life-saving medical procedures, or miscarriage management. It establishes a Class 6 felony for violating this prohibition, imposes civil penalties up to $10,000 per dose, and allows civil lawsuits for wrongful death of an unborn child by specific parties (e.g., parents, the pregnant person, or their estate). The bill directly affects medical providers, pharmacies, and anyone transporting such substances into the state, while exempting individuals acting in self-defense or under medical necessity. The attorney general may seek injunctions to stop violations and collect civil penalties for deposit into a state fund.
HB 1257 redefines "abortion" in South Dakota law to include any action intending to terminate a pregnancy with knowledge it will likely cause the unborn child's death, while excluding specific medical treatments (like miscarriage care, ectopic pregnancy treatment, or procedures to save the unborn child's life). It requires physicians to determine that a pregnancy poses a "reasonably foreseeable risk of death" to the mother before permitting an abortion, mandates attempts to preserve both lives when possible, and mandates hospital-based reporting to the Department of Health. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals, physicians, and hospitals by setting strict medical criteria for legal abortions and prohibiting abortions based solely on psychological conditions or self-harm fears. It does not criminalize all abortions but creates a narrow exception for life-threatening conditions, with violations classified as Class 6 felonies.
HB 1138 requires non-medical home care agencies in South Dakota to obtain a license from the Department of Health before operating. Agencies must submit applications, pay a fee (capped at $100), and verify that home care aides complete 10 hours of mandatory training (covering dementia care, safety, nutrition, and abuse reporting) and pass criminal background checks. The bill directly affects home care agencies, their employees (home care aides), and clients receiving services like bathing assistance, meal prep, or companionship in their homes. Operating without a license is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and agencies must maintain client records and allow department inspections.
SB 220 directs South Dakota's Department of Corrections to conduct a study evaluating juvenile correctional and residential facilities. The study must examine best practices, therapeutic housing models, vocational training combined with mental health services, and staff-to-youth ratios, including inspections at three facilities outside South Dakota. The bill appropriates $50,000 from the general fund to cover study costs and requires a written report to the Legislative Research Council by September 1, 2026. This is a procedural study bill with no direct policy changes or new requirements for facilities, solely aimed at gathering information for future decisions.
HB 1043 allocates $978,294 to reimburse 12 specific rural healthcare professionals (4 family physicians, 2 physician assistants, and 6 nurse practitioners) who met requirements under §34-12G-3 for rural recruitment programs. It also allocates $370,000 to reimburse other eligible healthcare professionals meeting requirements under §34-12G-12. The funds come from the state general fund and are intended to cover costs incurred by providers who participated in designated rural recruitment initiatives. The bill declares an emergency to expedite funding, with unspent funds reverting per standard procedures.
HB 1210 bans employers, schools, state agencies, and other entities from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition for employment, enrollment, or accessing services. It directly affects workers, students, and individuals seeking public benefits or services. Violating this ban would result in a Class 2 misdemeanor penalty. The law overrides existing requirements and takes effect immediately upon enactment.
HB 1153 protects healthcare providers' right to refuse participation in or payment for medical services that conflict with their moral, ethical, or religious beliefs (Section 2). It applies broadly to all healthcare professionals (like doctors, nurses, pharmacists), healthcare entities (hospitals, clinics), and organizations arranging medical payments (Section 1). The bill prohibits discrimination against providers who exercise this right, engage in protected speech about it, report violations, or disclose conscience-related concerns to authorities (Section 3). It clarifies that employers may accommodate this right through reassignment or schedule changes but cannot retaliate, while not affecting existing duties to provide non-conflicting care.
HB 1170 requires South Dakota's Department of Public Safety to make the state's organ donation registry accessible online 24/7, allowing registered donors or authorized individuals to verify their status anytime. It directly affects South Dakotans who are organ donors or considering donation, as well as organ procurement organizations and donation agencies that need to access registry information. The bill mandates that the registry must allow online registration, amendment, revocation, and verification of donor status, while ensuring personally identifiable information is protected and only used for determining donation status near death. This change streamlines access to the registry without altering the underlying donation process or eligibility rules.
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.
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.
