Transportation

HB 1245 allows South Dakota municipalities to create a local tax (up to 1% on taxable sales) to fund capital projects like infrastructure repairs, equipment purchases, or building renovations. To implement this, a municipality must form a Capital Improvement Board (with 1 elected official and 4 residents) to review proposals, secure board approval, and then hold a voter referendum requiring 60% support. All tax revenue must be placed in a special fund dedicated exclusively to approved capital projects, with the tax expiring after 60 months or once the targeted revenue amount is met. Municipalities cannot use this tax if they’ve imposed it within the previous 24 months.

SB 240 appropriates $5 million from South Dakota's general fund to create a rural access infrastructure fund, directly affecting all counties by providing funding for infrastructure improvements on township and county secondary roads. Funds are distributed to counties based on their proportion of small structures (like bridges or culverts) on these roads relative to the statewide total, calculated using data reported to the Department of Transportation. The bill requires the Department of Revenue to distribute no more than one-third of the funds annually across fiscal years 2026-2028, with unspent funds reverting by June 2031. It declares an emergency to expedite implementation, focusing solely on the concrete funding mechanism and distribution rules without advocating for outcomes.

SB 130 appropriates $8 million from South Dakota's general fund to the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority. The funds must cover public roadway and infrastructure improvements directly needed due to construction at Ellsworth Air Force Base, including road reconstruction, safety upgrades, and traffic studies. The authority must report annually on how funds were used and cannot spend more than 3% of the appropriation on administrative costs. This bill specifically affects infrastructure supporting Ellsworth Air Force Base operations and surrounding public roads.

Senate Bill 164 (SB 164) requires all current and new holders of commercial driver licenses (CDLs) in South Dakota to demonstrate English language proficiency by January 1, 2026. This requirement aligns with federal standards (49 C.F.R. § 391.11) for commercial motor vehicle drivers and applies directly to individuals seeking or renewing CDLs. The bill amends state law to add English proficiency as a mandatory condition for CDL issuance, referencing existing federal qualifications. Violations may result in penalties, though specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text.

SB 236 creates a new "county and township infrastructure fund" in South Dakota's state treasury to manage unspent money from existing rural access infrastructure funds. It requires counties to transfer any unobligated funds (money not committed to specific projects) by June 30, 2029, to this state fund instead of letting them revert to the general budget. The fund will hold these unspent moneys for future allocation to counties, following existing rules for rural road projects, and will be administered by the Department of Revenue. This bill does not change how funds are spent but provides a formal mechanism for accounting, safekeeping, and future distribution of leftover funds.

SB 71 allows South Dakota's Department of Transportation to take over federal environmental review responsibilities for highway projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It directly affects the state DOT and any parties involved in lawsuits related to these highway projects. Key provisions include waiving South Dakota's sovereign immunity (meaning the state can be sued in federal court) for compliance disputes and requiring the state to pay damages and attorney fees from highway funds if it loses such cases. The bill streamlines environmental reviews for state highway projects but does not change federal environmental standards.