Technology

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 214: amend provisions pertaining to the publication of the statewide voter registration file.

SB 214 requires South Dakota's Secretary of State to post weekly updates to the statewide voter registration file every Monday by 11:59 p.m. Central Time. It also establishes a rolling five-year historical archive of this data on the Secretary's website, making it freely available. The bill prohibits public access to sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers, driver license numbers, and birth dates within these files. Additionally, it bans selling or using voter data for commercial purposes (with exceptions for political polling), while allowing fees for paper copies of voter lists.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill restricts access to sensitive voter data (SSNs, DOB) and bans commercial use, directly aligning with data privacy protections in technology policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Technology

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 44: establish investigative subpoena authority to gather business records in certain investigations.

SB 44 allows South Dakota's Attorney General to obtain business records from internet and telecom providers during criminal investigations of internet crimes against children or human trafficking. It requires judicial approval based on "reasonable cause" before issuing subpoenas for specific records like IP addresses, account details, and device information. Hughes County judges have statewide authority to approve these subpoenas, which cannot notify account holders, and obtained records must be used solely for law enforcement with privacy safeguards. The bill directly affects providers (including internet and telecom companies) by mandating compliance with court-ordered requests for targeted data.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSB 44 provides law enforcement with subpoena authority for business records in serious crimes (internet crimes against children, human trafficking), enhancing investigative capabilities within the criminal justice system.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill enables law enforcement to access user data without notice, weakening privacy protections for individuals in criminal investigations.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Technology

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 135: protect residents from increased utility costs and utility shortages caused by data centers and clarify authority to regulate data centers.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProhibits tax exemptions for data centers (Section 5), closing a tax loophole and increasing state revenue, aligning with fiscal responsibility and budget management.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyPrevents utility rate hikes for residents by requiring data centers to cover electricity costs, protecting consumers from increased energy expenses.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill imposes financial burdens (electricity costs, tax exemptions) and regulatory restrictions on data centers, directly limiting their operational flexibility without advancing tech policy goals.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Technology

passed both · South Dakota · House Mar 2, 2026

HB 1275: create requirements for age verification and parental consent for application stores and to provide a penalty therefor.

This bill amends existing state consumer protection laws to add requirements for age verification and parental consent for application stores, which are digital platforms where users download software applications. The legislation would require these stores to verify the age of users and obtain parental consent from minors before allowing them to access or download applications. It also establishes penalties for businesses that fail to comply with these new verification and consent requirements. The bill does not create new consumer protection categories but rather modifies existing deceptive trade practices provisions to include digital application store compliance.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens consumer protection by requiring age verification and parental consent, enhancing digital safety for minors and regulating tech platforms.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Technology

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failed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SB 205: revise registration fees for drones and establish a fund to support drone aviation.

SB 205 revises drone registration fees in South Dakota, charging 1.5% of purchase price for agricultural drones and 2% for all other drones. The collected fees fund a new "drone aviation fund" administered by the Board of Technical Education to support drone training grants at state technical colleges. This bill directly affects drone owners (especially agricultural users) by changing their registration tax rates and creating a dedicated funding source for drone industry workforce development. The fund will receive all drone registration fees and interest, with expenditures requiring annual budget approval. The bill does not apply to small unmanned aircraft systems covered under federal regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRevises drone registration fees (tax) to fund drone training grants, directly allocating tax revenue to support workforce development programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirectly funds drone training grants at state technical colleges via new aviation fund, supporting higher education workforce development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates a dedicated fund for drone training grants at technical colleges, directly advancing workforce development in a growing industry and supporting employment standards through skill-building.80% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds drone training grants for industry workforce development, directly advancing drone technology sector through dedicated fee-based funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Technology

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failed · South Dakota · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 1246: prohibit nondisclosure of certain agreements related to data centers.

HB 1246 prohibits state agencies and local governments from signing agreements with private entities that require secrecy about data center projects. It mandates that any agreement for building, developing, or locating a data center must be treated as a public record, making its terms accessible to the public. The bill defines a data center as a facility storing, processing, or managing electronic data. This ensures transparency by preventing confidential clauses in such agreements, allowing public access to project details without secrecy restrictions.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates public access to data center agreements, ensuring transparency in tech infrastructure contracts and aligning with data privacy protections by preventing secrecy around data handling terms.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Technology

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passed · South Dakota · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 1229: require the inclusion of certain features within a manufacturer's application store or on a developer's application.

HB 1229 requires app stores (manufacturers) and app developers to include specific features for user transparency. Specifically, app stores must list all purchasable goods/services with prices on app pages, and developers must provide an easy-to-access feature allowing users to view those prices and cancel subscriptions. The bill applies to all app stores and developers operating in South Dakota, with requirements deemed "technologically feasible." Violations trigger a 90-day cure period before the attorney general can impose civil penalties up to $1,000 per incident. The law focuses on mandatory disclosure and user control, not on creating new private legal claims.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires app store transparency on pricing and subscription cancellation, enhancing consumer protection in digital transactions. This aligns with supporting technology policies for user rights.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Technology

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passed · South Dakota · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1005: provide a sales and use tax exemption for goods and services related to data center operations.

HB 1005 exempts sales and use taxes on data center equipment and software for businesses operating qualified data centers in South Dakota. It specifically covers servers, cooling systems, power infrastructure, security systems, and related technology used in facilities meeting strict criteria (e.g., built between 2026-2036, meeting fire safety standards). Qualified businesses must verify eligibility with the Department of Revenue and maintain compliance with electric utility agreements and water usage requirements. The tax exemption lasts 50 years from the facility's construction permit date. This directly affects data center operators seeking to reduce operational costs in South Dakota.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill grants tax exemption for data centers, reducing state tax revenue by excluding sales/use taxes on qualifying equipment and services.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyTax exemption for data center equipment incentivizes infrastructure investment, directly advancing technology sector growth through financial support for critical tech infrastructure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Technology

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