SB 176 South Dakota Senate · 2025 Regular Session

clarify the discovery procedures and powers and to modify the administration of the Government Operations and Audit Committee.

SB 176 aims to clarify discovery procedures and modify the administration of the Government Operations and Audit Committee in South Dakota. The bill updates how information is gathered during investigations and adjusts the committee's operational structure to improve oversight efficiency. These changes directly affect state government officials and the audit committee members who will implement the new procedures. The legislation focuses on refining existing processes rather than introducing new investigative powers or altering the committee's core responsibilities.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Signed Mar 31, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

House State Affairs Engrossed → Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 10, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends South Dakota's Government Operations and Audit Committee statutes to clarify and expand the committee's investigative powers, particularly regarding discovery procedures and subpoena enforcement. The changes allow the committee to use civil discovery methods and authorize individual investigators to conduct investigations on the committee's behalf.

Scope change

The bill expands the committee's authority from general review powers to explicit civil discovery procedures and authorizes delegation of investigative duties to individuals.

ENFORCEMENT

Added explicit authority for the committee to issue subpoenas for individuals, documents, or both, and to take depositions and issue interrogatories.

Added authority to use civil action discovery procedures and chapter 21-34 enforcement mechanisms when witnesses or document holders refuse to comply.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that authorized investigators must comply with state and federal confidentiality laws and any additional restrictions set by the committee.

FISCAL

Added authority for the committee to authorize the Legislative Research Council director to expend legislative priority fund moneys for carrying out these duties.

SCOPE

Modified the committee's purpose to explicitly include reviewing findings of abuse or neglect in juvenile corrections facilities.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025 · House Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

33–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 35

Mar 6, 2025

D Democratic3

3 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican32

30 Yea 2

93% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 31, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor on 2025-03-31 S.J. 539

executive

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed by the Speaker H.J. 524

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed by the President S.J. 502

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Concurred in amendments , Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 0 S.J. 467

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 58, NAYS 12 H.J. 452

upper

Mar 4, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (57-12)

house

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

State Affairs Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 13, NAYS 0

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Introduced

State Affairs Motion to amend , Passed, Amendment 176E

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to H.J. 324

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 35, NAYS 0 S.J. 269

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Senate Motion to amend , Passed, S.J. 269 Amendment 176C

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed,

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

State Affairs Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 9, NAYS 0

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Introduced

State Affairs Motion to amend , Passed, Amendment 176A

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to S.J. 152

upper

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors