SB 180 South Dakota Senate · 2026 Regular Session

modify requirements regarding nondomiciled commercial driver licenses.

SB 180 modifies South Dakota's rules for issuing commercial driver licenses (CDLs) to non-residents ("nondomiciled" applicants). It specifically allows individuals with H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 work visas (or those from U.S. territories with these visas) and people from states with decertified CDL programs to obtain a South Dakota CDL. Key provisions require applicants to present valid visa documents at every license transaction, confirm immigration status via federal systems, and have licenses expire when their visa validity ends (or within one year of issuance). The license must display "nondomiciled," and holders must surrender any other state's nondomiciled CDL.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Signed Mar 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Transportation Engrossed Enrolled · 7 edits · Mar 4, 2026
MODERATE
This bill enrolls the final version of SB 180, which establishes new rules for issuing commercial driver licenses to non-domiciled workers. The law specifically targets temporary visa holders (such as H-2A, H-2B, and E-2) and U.S. territory residents, requiring strict verification of their immigration status before and during the license lifecycle.
Scope change
The bill's scope is limited to the issuance, renewal, and management of commercial driver licenses for non-domiciled individuals; it does not alter rules for standard resident drivers.
ELIGIBILITY

Defines a specific group of eligible applicants as individuals with lawful employment-based nonimmigrant status (H-2A, H-2B, E-2) or those domiciled in U.S. territories holding similar visas.

REQUIREMENT

Mandates that non-citizen applicants provide unexpired foreign passports and employment authorization forms (I-94/I-94A) at every interaction with the department.

Requires the Department of Public Safety to verify immigration status using the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system.

Imposes a strict expiration rule where the driver's license must expire on the same date as the applicant's immigration authorization or within one year of issuance, whichever comes first.

Requires the word 'nondomiciled' to be printed on the face of the license to distinguish it from standard licenses.

Mandates that license renewals for this specific group must be done in person with valid proof of continued legal authorization to stay in the U.S.

ENFORCEMENT

Authorizes the department to downgrade or revoke the license if the holder is no longer eligible to hold a nondomiciled permit.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

340
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 35
Mar 3, 2026
D Democratic3
3 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
31 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
10
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Mar 10, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 2026-03-10 S.J. 514
executive
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 530
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 470
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate Concurred in amendments , Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0 S.J. 443
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 66, NAYS 0 H.J. 457
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed,
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Transportation Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 10, NAYS 0
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Introduced
Transportation Motion to amend , Passed, Amendment 180A
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Introduced
First read in House and referred to House Transportation H.J. 279
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 0 S.J. 221
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed, S.J. 11
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Transportation Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 0 S.J. 11
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Introduced
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Transportation S.J. 142
upper
4 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors