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SB 34 South Dakota Senate · 2025 Regular Session

update the roles of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Department of Public Safety regarding burning and burn permit issuing authority.

SB 34 updates the division of responsibilities between South Dakota's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Department of Public Safety concerning fire management and burn permit authority. The bill clarifies which department has the power to issue burn permits and manage burning activities, likely to improve coordination during wildfire seasons. This change directly affects landowners, permit holders, and state agencies responsible for fire prevention and enforcement. The legislation aims to streamline administrative processes without altering the fundamental rules for when and where fires can be legally burned.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed Mar 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 3 edits · Feb 27, 2025
MINOR
This bill enrolls a previously introduced legislative act that updates the roles of South Dakota's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Department of Public Safety regarding burning and burn permit authority. The changes clarify which agency has jurisdiction over specific fire management functions and permit issuance in the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District.
Scope change
The bill modifies the scope of fire management authority by explicitly assigning certain wildland fire functions to the Department of Public Safety and clarifying permit issuance responsibilities for open fires in the Black Hills area.
SCOPE

Amends § 1-41-4 to specify that the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources does not perform South Dakota Wildland Fire functions, which are instead vested in the Department of Public Safety per Executive Reorganization Order 2021-03.

REQUIREMENT

Amends § 34-35-17 to clarify that either the US Forest Service supervisor or the secretary of public safety may issue burn permits in the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District, with conditions to prevent endangerment of life or property.

Amends § 34-35-18 to confirm that the secretary of public safety or designee may set fires for forest and range management purposes, provided reasonable suppression forces and equipment are available.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 29, 2025 · House Feb 26, 2025

How they voted

35–0
Passed
Total votes 35
Jan 29, 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
16
Key actions
9
Committee
4
Mar 13, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 2025-03-13 S.J. 528
executive
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 443
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 411
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 70, NAYS 0 H.J. 410
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed,
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Agriculture and Natural Resources Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 13, NAYS 0
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to H.J. 172
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 35, NAYS 0 S.J. 128
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed,
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Agriculture and Natural Resources Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to S.J. 63
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.