SB 43 South Dakota Senate · 2026 Regular Session

address search and seizure provisions applicable to digital currency.

This bill updates South Dakota's search and seizure laws to explicitly include digital currency as "property" covered by existing warrant procedures. It defines digital currency as value recorded on blockchain or similar distributed ledger technology (e.g., Bitcoin). The change ensures law enforcement must follow standard warrant processes when seeking digital currency, aligning it with how physical property is treated under current law. This directly affects law enforcement investigations involving digital assets and individuals holding such currency.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Jan 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Mar 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 2 edits · Mar 4, 2026
MINOR
This bill amends South Dakota's search and seizure laws to explicitly include digital currency as property subject to search warrants. It adds a new definition of digital currency to ensure law enforcement can legally seize or search digital assets using existing legal frameworks.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of property subject to search and seizure provisions to include digital currency and blockchain-based assets.
DEFINITION

Added a new definition of 'digital currency' as a digital representation of value recorded on a cryptographically secured distributed ledger or other medium of exchange, including blockchain technology.

SCOPE

Modified existing property definition in § 23A-35-14 to explicitly include digital currency alongside documents, books, papers, and tangible objects.

Floor votes · House Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
9
Committee
2
Mar 12, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 2026-03-12 S.J. 529
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
House of Representatives Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 65, NAYS 1 H.J. 486
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed, H.J. 31
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Judiciary Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 0 H.J. 31
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
First read in House and referred to House Judiciary H.J. 53
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 32, NAYS 0 S.J. 60
upper
Jan 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed, S.J. 1
upper
Jan 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Judiciary Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 0 S.J. 1
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary S.J. 13
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.