South Dakota Bills

signed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 57: clarify when agency financial resource information must be filed in the permanent administrative rulemaking process.

SB 57 clarifies the financial information state agencies must submit when proposing a rule that increases a fee. It specifies that agencies must provide detailed records of their financial resources, including beginning and ending fund balances, receipts, and disbursements for the last two fiscal years, plus projected figures for the current and next fiscal year. This information must be filed with the Interim Rules Review Committee and code counsel as part of the rulemaking process before a public hearing. The requirement applies only to fee-increase proposals and does not alter other rulemaking procedures.

failed · South Dakota · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 1208: revise licensure provisions for electricians.

HB 1208 updates South Dakota's electrician licensure rules by requiring the State Electrical Commission to issue licenses both as physical cards and electronic equivalents. It sets specific fee limits: $150 maximum for exams, $100 for applications, and $35 for replacing lost licenses. The bill directly affects electricians, contractors, and businesses needing to hire licensed electrical workers by clarifying license formats and standardizing associated costs. These changes streamline licensing processes while ensuring fee transparency for applicants. The bill does not alter who must be licensed or the examination requirements.

died · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 185: amend the process by which moneys are distributed from the employer's investment in South Dakota's future fund.

SB 185 amends South Dakota's "employer's investment in South Dakota's future fund" to improve transparency and accountability in distributing funds for economic development. The bill requires business applicants to submit detailed business plans - including job descriptions, compensation, and other funding sources - before receiving grants. It limits funding to actual project costs, mandates matching commitments from applicants, and requires the Governor's Office of Economic Development to publicly report biannually on each grant (including recipient details, project purpose, and jobs created). These changes apply directly to businesses, educational institutions, and workforce programs seeking fund support for research, infrastructure, or economic development projects within the state.

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 6, 2026

HCR 6008: requesting the attorney general file a lawsuit against the People's Republic of China and related parties to seek damages related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

HCR 6008 is a South Dakota resolution requesting the Attorney General to sue China, the Chinese Communist Party, and a Wuhan lab for $100 billion in damages related to the pandemic's origin. It directly affects South Dakota residents who suffered pandemic-related losses like medical costs, business closures, or income loss. The resolution proposes creating a state fund to distribute up to $250,000 per person to affected residents using any damages secured through the lawsuit. This is a procedural request to the Attorney General, not a binding law.

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 202: require that the owner of a motor vehicle removed from a body of water pay the removal costs.

SB 202 requires vehicle owners to pay for removing their vehicles from bodies of water in South Dakota. It applies specifically to owners who intentionally abandon vehicles on public roads, drive vehicles into lakes or streams causing disablement, or drive onto frozen water that breaks through. The law makes owners civilly liable for both towing/removal costs and any associated storage fees under existing law. This bill directly affects vehicle owners whose actions result in a vehicle being submerged or disabled in water, shifting the financial responsibility from public agencies to the owner.

signed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 5: require the disclosure of whether a ballot question was proposed by initiative or by the Legislature.

SB 5 requires South Dakota to clearly disclose on ballots whether a proposed constitutional amendment or law was initiated by the Legislature or by a citizen petition. The bill amends election laws to mandate that ballot titles for both types of measures must include a specific disclosure: "proposed by the Legislature" for legislative proposals, and "proposed by a citizen-initiated petition" for initiative measures. This disclosure must appear directly after the title and before the attorney general's explanation and fiscal note on the ballot. The law applies to all ballot questions submitted for voter approval, ensuring voters can immediately see the origin of each measure.

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1050: increase civil penalties for commercial driver violations.

HB 1050 increases civil fines for commercial drivers who violate safety regulations. It raises penalties to $3,963 for a first conviction and $7,926 for repeat offenses for drivers violating out-of-service orders. Employers face fines of $7,157-$39,617 for certain violations, such as allowing unsafe driving practices. The bill directly affects commercial drivers and their employers by imposing higher financial consequences for safety rule breaches. These changes apply to specific violations under South Dakota’s commercial driver safety laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1122: provide for the licensure of certain fishing guides, and to provide a penalty therefor.

This bill requires individuals who provide paid fishing guide services to the public to obtain an annual license from South Dakota's Department of Game, Fish and Parks, effective July 1, 2027. To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, maintain $1 million in liability insurance, and pay a $150 fee for residents. The license requirement does not apply to guiding services provided exclusively on the individual's own property. Operating without a license is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with each client served considered a separate offense.

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1174: classify 911 telecommunicators as Class B members of the South Dakota Retirement System.

HB 1174 would amend South Dakota's retirement law to include 911 telecommunicators as Class B members of the South Dakota Retirement System. This change directly affects 911 call center workers across the state, granting them the same retirement classification as police officers, firefighters, and other public safety staff. The bill updates the legal definition of "Class B member" in the retirement system statutes to explicitly list 911 telecommunicators alongside existing professions like law enforcement and fire personnel. This is a technical classification change, not a new benefit or funding mechanism.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1068: authorize the dispensing of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine under a written protocol developed by a health care provider, and to provide liability protection therefor.

HB 1068 allows South Dakota pharmacists to dispense ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to adults 18+ based on written protocols created by physicians. These protocols must include risk assessments, drug information (indications, usage, side effects), and instructions for handling adverse events. The law shields physicians and pharmacists from liability for good-faith compliance, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. It directly affects healthcare providers who dispense these drugs and patients receiving them under this new process.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1112: modify the definition of an electronic smoking device.

HB 1112 modifies South Dakota's definition of "electronic smoking device" to explicitly include any device containing or delivering nicotine (or other substances with nicotine) intended for human consumption. This change clarifies that e-cigarettes, vape pens, e-cigars, and similar devices delivering nicotine fall under the definition, regardless of other substances they may contain. The amendment directly affects tobacco businesses selling these products and enforcement of existing laws regulating electronic smoking devices. The bill does not create new restrictions but ensures the definition aligns with how such devices are commonly used and marketed.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1186: require the approval of the county for the creation of a tax increment financing district by a municipality.

HB 1186 requires South Dakota municipalities to obtain written approval from county commissioners before creating a tax increment financing district. This directly affects municipalities seeking to establish such districts and the counties where those districts would be located. The key provision mandates that county boards of commissioners must approve the district's creation through a formal resolution, either for the entire county or the portion within the county. The bill changes the process by adding county consent as a mandatory step, ensuring local county input before municipal tax district development begins.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Housing

Bill results