impose a moratorium on industrial dairy operations.

HB 1159 imposes a moratorium on new or expanded industrial dairy operations exceeding 7,499 cows in South Dakota, blocking permits for such projects after July 1, 2026. Existing permitted dairies can continue operating at their current scale. The moratorium, lasting until June 30, 2028, aims to give the state time to study industrial dairy impacts on the economy and environment, allow counties to update land-use plans (including road agreements and size-based setbacks), and assess watershed resource needs. It directly affects developers seeking to build or expand large-scale dairy farms.