SB 130 appropriates $8 million from South Dakota's general fund to the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority. The funds must cover public roadway and infrastructure improvements directly needed due to construction at Ellsworth Air Force Base, including road reconstruction, safety upgrades, and traffic studies. The authority must report annually on how funds were used and cannot spend more than 3% of the appropriation on administrative costs. This bill specifically affects infrastructure supporting Ellsworth Air Force Base operations and surrounding public roads.
SB 236 creates a new "county and township infrastructure fund" in South Dakota's state treasury to manage unspent money from existing rural access infrastructure funds. It requires counties to transfer any unobligated funds (money not committed to specific projects) by June 30, 2029, to this state fund instead of letting them revert to the general budget. The fund will hold these unspent moneys for future allocation to counties, following existing rules for rural road projects, and will be administered by the Department of Revenue. This bill does not change how funds are spent but provides a formal mechanism for accounting, safekeeping, and future distribution of leftover funds.
HB 1253 adjusts how property taxes are calculated for owner-occupied single-family homes and nonagricultural land by using a special averaging method. It requires county assessors to set each property's taxable value based on the "Olympic average" (removing the highest and lowest values) of its fair market value over the past eight years, or since a recent change in use or addition. This aims to stabilize tax bills by smoothing out annual value fluctuations. The bill specifically prevents this adjustment from increasing taxes on agricultural properties. It directly affects homeowners and nonagricultural property owners in South Dakota.
This bill authorizes the South Dakota Department of Corrections to demolish the Pierre Minimum Center in Pierre, South Dakota, and covers related costs including removal of structures, hazardous material abatement, and site restoration to grade. It appropriates $682,825 from the state general fund specifically for this demolition project. The Bureau of Human Resources and Administration will oversee the work, and the bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon approval. Unspent funds would revert to the state treasury per standard procedures.
HB 1041 authorizes the South Dakota Department of the Military to expand and renovate the Sturgis Readiness Center, including utilities and infrastructure. It appropriates $2.35 million from the state general fund and $8 million in federal funds for this project, with unspent funds reverting to the state by June 30, 2031. The bill declares an emergency to expedite the project, which directly affects the Sturgis facility and its military operations. The renovation requires approval from the adjutant general and oversight by the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration.
HB 1134 appropriates $101 from South Dakota's general fund to support state economic development efforts. The bill authorizes the state to approve payments for these purposes and requires unspent funds to revert per standard state procedures by June 30, 2026. This is a simple fiscal appropriation with no new programs or direct impact on specific entities beyond state budget allocations.
HB 1241 increases the property tax exemption amount for disabled veterans and surviving spouses in South Dakota. It amends existing law (§ 10-4-40 for veterans and § 10-4-41 for surviving spouses) to raise the value of a primary residence exempt from property taxes. Currently set at $225,000, this exemption applies to owner-occupied homes where the veteran is permanently and totally disabled from service-connected injuries, or to surviving spouses of such veterans. To qualify, applicants must submit a confidential form to the Department of Revenue and maintain occupancy; the exemption ends if they sell the home, stop living there, or remarry (for surviving spouses).
SB 220 directs South Dakota's Department of Corrections to conduct a study evaluating juvenile correctional and residential facilities. The study must examine best practices, therapeutic housing models, vocational training combined with mental health services, and staff-to-youth ratios, including inspections at three facilities outside South Dakota. The bill appropriates $50,000 from the general fund to cover study costs and requires a written report to the Legislative Research Council by September 1, 2026. This is a procedural study bill with no direct policy changes or new requirements for facilities, solely aimed at gathering information for future decisions.
SB 125 creates a state fund to provide property tax rebates for owner-occupied single-family homes in South Dakota. The Department of Revenue will calculate annual rebates using a formula: multiplying $2 by the number of eligible homeowners, subtracting that from the fund's total, and dividing by the number of homeowners. Rebates are capped at either this calculated amount or the portion of property taxes exceeding $250 per home. The fund cannot be diverted to the general state budget, and any unused funds must stay in the fund or cover administrative costs. This directly affects homeowners who live in single-family residences and pay property taxes.
SB 75 expands eligibility for South Dakota's cybersecurity services initiative to include nonprofit utility companies and utilities operated by local governments (like cities or counties). It appropriates $7 million from the general fund to the Attorney General's Office to fund cybersecurity infrastructure and administrative costs for eligible entities. The bill modifies existing law to allow these newly included organizations to access the initiative's resources, which previously covered only counties and municipalities. Funds must be used to protect IT assets and address specific cybersecurity needs of participating local governments and utilities. The initiative aims to improve cybersecurity across state government and service provider networks.
