Technology

introduced · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SC 816: celebrating Generations Indigenous Ways and its impact.

This bill is a legislative commemoration that formally recognizes Generations Indigenous Ways, a nonprofit organization on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The resolution highlights the organization's work in blending Lakota cultural knowledge with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education to empower Native youth. It acknowledges the group's programs, which include science camps, afterschool activities, and food sovereignty initiatives that foster cultural pride and community wellbeing. The bill does not change laws or allocate funding but serves to honor the organization's contributions to education and cultural preservation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill recognizes and validates Indigenous educational programs that blend cultural knowledge with STEM, enhancing student programs and educational access for Native youth.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill recognizes nonprofit integrating Indigenous knowledge with STEM education, promoting technology access and education for Native youth.75% confidence

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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

Sub-Topics Online Safety Social Media

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passed · South Dakota · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 1309: restrict the processing of online personal data of individuals sixteen years of age or younger.

HB 1309 restricts online services from collecting or using personal data of users under 16 years old in South Dakota. It requires operators (like apps or websites) to delete such data within 14 days of identifying a minor user, unless parental consent is obtained for 13- to 15-year-olds or the processing is strictly necessary for essential purposes like security, legal compliance, or providing requested services. The law bans data use for advertising, marketing, or third-party sharing without consent and allows the state Attorney General to enforce it through fines up to $5,000 per violation. This directly affects minors under 16 and online platforms targeting them or collecting their data within South Dakota.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRestricts data collection for minors, enhancing privacy protections per consumer safety standards; aligns with data privacy regulations in technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy Digital Government

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signed · South Dakota · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1298: prohibit the electronic publication of certain information about a judicial officer or law enforcement officer and provide a penalty therefor.

HB 1298 prohibits publishing a judicial or law enforcement officer's home address, date of birth, or social security number online without their consent if done with the intent to cause fear for the officer's safety or their immediate family's safety. The law applies only to electronic publications and targets individuals who share such sensitive personal information under these specific conditions. Violating this prohibition is classified as a Class 6 felony. The bill directly protects officers by restricting the online dissemination of their personal details that could enable threats or harassment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects law enforcement officers' safety by prohibiting unauthorized online publication of sensitive personal information, directly supporting operational security in Criminal Justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProtects sensitive personal data (addresses, DOB, SSN) of officers from unauthorized online publication, directly advancing data privacy safeguards in digital contexts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Data Privacy

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 1314: modify provisions pertaining to the testing and use of automatic tabulating equipment.

HB 1314 modifies South Dakota's election equipment rules to enhance security and standardization. It prohibits internet-connected voting systems, requires vendors to submit software source code for independent review before certification, and mandates annual system updates. The bill directly affects election vendors (who must provide source code and maintain systems), the State Board of Elections (which must certify systems), and local jurisdictions (which must use updated systems or conduct manual counts). Systems approved before January 1, 2026, expire July 1, 2026, and vendors must cover costs if manual recounts are needed due to outdated equipment.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates source code review and prohibits internet-connected voting systems to enhance election cybersecurity, directly strengthening security measures per topic indicators.90% confidence

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died · South Dakota · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 242: make an appropriation to the Department of Education for the provision of grants to sparse school districts.

SB 242 appropriates $2.5 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Education for grants to "sparse school districts" (as defined in state law). The funds are distributed based on each district's 2026 fall enrollment, with grants used for facility improvements, educational technology, or instructional materials. Districts must use the funds by June 30, 2027, or the unspent money reverts to the state treasury. This bill directly affects rural or low-enrollment school districts eligible under state definitions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2.5M from general fund for public school grants, directly funding essential educational services per state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $2.5M for grants to sparse school districts to fund facility improvements, tech, and materials, directly advancing K-12 school infrastructure and resources.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly allocates funds for 'educational technology' as a permitted use of grants, directly advancing technology resources in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Curriculum

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passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 234: modify provisions pertaining to the purchasing of goods and services related to data center operations.

This bill exempts sales tax on enterprise information technology equipment and computer software purchased for use in South Dakota's qualified data centers. It directly affects data center owners, operators, or tenants (referred to as "qualified businesses") who meet specific criteria, such as having facilities classified as real property subject to taxation and equipped with fire suppression systems. The key mechanism requires businesses to submit documentation to the Department of Revenue to verify eligibility and maintain annual certification. To retain the exemption, businesses must also ensure electric service agreements avoid shifting costs to other customers and confirm water usage compatibility with local providers. The tax exemption applies to equipment like servers, cooling systems, power infrastructure, and security systems used exclusively in these facilities.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts sales tax on data center IT equipment, reducing state tax revenue for qualified businesses.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyTax exemption for data center IT equipment lowers operational costs, incentivizing investment in technology infrastructure and supporting data center growth.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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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

Sub-Topics Data Privacy

died · South Dakota · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SB 215: provide for a pilot program for the implementation of a secured cryptographically end-to-end verifiable voting system in certain jurisdictions.

SB 215 establishes a pilot program in South Dakota to test a secure digital voting system for absentee voters, including military and overseas voters, in up to three participating jurisdictions. Jurisdictions must obtain local approval and notify the Secretary of State, who then reviews and waives incompatible state laws within seven days. Participating jurisdictions will not need to provide paper ballots to absentee voters, and the system must use encryption to verify votes while ensuring voters can cast all their votes securely. The pilot aims to validate the system's functionality without altering voter eligibility, registration, or election day procedures.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill implements secure encrypted voting system with end-to-end verification, directly enhancing cybersecurity and data privacy protections per tech support indicators.95% confidence

Tags Elections

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passed · South Dakota · House Feb 23, 2026

HB 1305: prohibit the dissemination of location information about a public officer and provide a penalty and civil cause of action therefor.

HB 1305 prohibits sharing the home, work, or school location of a public officer (current or former) or their family without consent, specifically when intended to harass, threaten, or cause fear for safety. It makes violations a Class 6 felony and creates a civil lawsuit option for affected officers to recover damages (including emotional distress), attorney fees, and punitive damages. The law directly affects public officers and their households by restricting location information dissemination under these conditions. It applies regardless of whether criminal charges are filed for the same act.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits unauthorized sharing of public officers' location data, strengthening personal data privacy protections under confidentiality laws.90% confidence

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