require that pipeline applicants acquire county permits prior to submission of a permit application to the Public Utilities Commission.

This bill requires pipeline project applicants to obtain necessary county permits before submitting their applications to the Public Utilities Commission. The change shifts the permitting sequence so that local county approvals must be secured first, rather than being processed simultaneously with state-level reviews. This procedural adjustment directly affects pipeline companies seeking to build infrastructure in South Dakota counties. The bill does not alter the substantive requirements for pipeline construction but modifies the administrative order in which permits are obtained.