HB 1059 South Dakota House · 2025 Regular Session

clarify the meaning of teleconference for purposes of open meeting requirements.

HB 1059 clarifies the definition of a teleconference for open meeting laws in South Dakota, directly affecting government bodies that hold meetings using remote communication technology. The bill specifies that teleconferences must still comply with open meeting requirements, ensuring transparency when officials meet remotely. This change aims to prevent ambiguity about whether virtual meetings count as open meetings under state law. The legislation applies to all public entities required to follow open meeting procedures when conducting business through teleconference formats.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Signed Mar 31, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Local Government Engrossed Enrolled · 3 edits · Mar 5, 2025
MINOR
This bill clarifies that teleconferences, including audio, video, and electronic communications like email or social media, count as official meetings under South Dakota's open meeting laws. The change ensures that public bodies must follow open meeting requirements when discussing official business via electronic means, preventing them from bypassing transparency rules through remote communication.
Scope change
Expanded the definition of 'official meeting' to explicitly include teleconferences and electronic communications, ensuring remote discussions of public policy are subject to open meeting requirements.
DEFINITION

Added explicit language to Section 1-25-12 defining 'teleconference' as an exchange of information via audio, video, or electronic medium, including internet-based communication.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that official meetings can occur through electronic means like email, instant messaging, social media, or virtual platforms, provided they involve discussion or decision-making of official business.

Added exception stating that communications solely to schedule meetings or confirm attendance do not count as official meetings requiring open meeting compliance.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 4, 2025 · House Jan 27, 2025

How they voted

350
Passed
Total votes 35
Mar 4, 2025
D Democratic3
3 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Mar 31, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 2025-03-31 H.J. 554
executive
Mar 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 474
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 470
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 35, NAYS 0 S.J. 434
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (35-0)
senate
Mar 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed,
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
State Affairs Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 9, NAYS 0
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to S.J. 153
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 68, NAYS 0 H.J. 123
lower
Jan 27, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (67-0-1)
house
Jan 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Local Government Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 12, NAYS 1
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
Local Government Motion to amend , Passed, Amendment 1059B
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced
First read in House and referred to H.J. 29
lower
15 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors