Technology (Emerging Technology)

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 1280: increase penalties for the operation of drones over certain facilities and to provide for mitigation techniques and countermeasures.

HB 1280 prohibits drone use for surveillance, recording, or interference at South Dakota state military installations, facilities, aircraft, vehicles, or weapons systems without prior written consent from the facility commander. Violating this prohibition is classified as a Class 6 felony. The bill authorizes law enforcement to intercept or disable such drones using jamming, hacking, or physical capture - excluding firearms - if there is reasonable suspicion of an imminent threat to public safety. Drones used in violations may be forfeited, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of by court order.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts drone surveillance at military facilities, limiting tech application without privacy/security benefits90% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

died · South Dakota · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 1304: allow subdivisions to limit the operation of drones at open-air events.

HB 1304 (South Dakota House Bill 1304) allows cities, counties, and other local subdivisions to create reasonable rules restricting drone flights at specific large outdoor events. It directly affects event organizers and attendees at parades, festivals, state/county fairs, air shows, sporting events, and similar gatherings drawing crowds. The bill authorizes local governments to implement these restrictions to protect privacy and prevent trespass, as outlined in the new provisions added to South Dakota law. The key mechanism is granting subdivisions authority to enact such rules through ordinances or resolutions, without requiring state-level approval.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts drone operations at events to prevent trespass/protect privacy, limiting technology application per bill's purpose.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging 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

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Emerging Technology

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passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 127: limit nuisances caused by data centers.

SB 127 limits data center operations to reduce disruptions for nearby residents. It prohibits new data centers within one mile of residential areas (though local governments can set stricter rules) and caps continuous noise at 45 decibels near residential property lines. The bill defines data centers broadly to include cloud services, cryptocurrency mining, and streaming platforms. Violations would be deemed legal nuisances, allowing state attorneys or affected residents to seek court orders to stop the disruptions.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts data center locations near residences and caps noise, defining data centers broadly to include tech services, directly limiting tech infrastructure deployment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

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signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 43: address search and seizure provisions applicable to digital currency.

This bill updates South Dakota's search and seizure laws to explicitly include digital currency as "property" covered by existing warrant procedures. It defines digital currency as value recorded on blockchain or similar distributed ledger technology (e.g., Bitcoin). The change ensures law enforcement must follow standard warrant processes when seeking digital currency, aligning it with how physical property is treated under current law. This directly affects law enforcement investigations involving digital assets and individuals holding such currency.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires warrants for digital currency searches, protecting civil rights by aligning with physical property search procedures under existing law.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires warrants for digital currency searches, treating it as protected property under existing law to prevent warrantless seizures, aligning with digital privacy protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Emerging Technology

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 1155: permit the state to invest in Bitcoin.

HB 1155 amends South Dakota's investment rules to allow the state to allocate up to 10% of its investment funds into Bitcoin. The bill specifically defines Bitcoin as a digital asset meeting strict network criteria (starting from its 2009 genesis block) and requires all Bitcoin holdings to be stored through secure custody solutions or qualified custodians. It applies only to state investment funds, not individual citizens or private entities, and explicitly prohibits investments in other digital assets like cryptocurrency exchanges. The bill does not authorize new spending but modifies existing investment guidelines to include Bitcoin under defined security and limit requirements.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly authorizes state investment in Bitcoin as a digital asset, directly funding a technology application through state funds with defined security requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

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