HB 1244 repeals South Dakota’s special donations fund (created under § 13-66-3) and appropriates $500,000 from the general fund to the Department of Education. This grant supports the Jobs for America's Graduates-South Dakota program by providing financial assistance to school districts and accredited nonpublic schools implementing the initiative. The funds must match private donations or federal grants for program operations and cannot be added to an endowment. It directly affects schools participating in the JAG program and transfers existing funds from the repealed special donations fund into the general fund. The bill takes effect June 30, 2026.
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 1260 allows South Dakota municipalities to create programs that rebate property taxes on owner-occupied single-family homes within their borders. If a city or town adopts such a program through a local ordinance, it must provide rebates to qualifying homeowners who meet the criteria set by that ordinance. The bill specifically limits rebates to taxes levied directly by the municipality, not state or county taxes. This policy change gives local governments a tool to potentially reduce housing costs for residents, but only if they choose to implement such a program.
SB 21 adjusts South Dakota's retail sales tax refund program for low-income residents. It sets specific income thresholds ($17,215 for single-person households, $23,265 for larger households) and calculates refunds as $258 for eligible singles under the limit, up to $581 for larger households. The bill ensures these refunds remain available even if a recipient also receives property tax relief under separate programs. It directly affects elderly residents and people with disabilities who meet the income criteria under existing state law.
This bill appropriates $425,000 from South Dakota's general fund to the Department of Revenue to provide tax refunds for real property tax and sales tax to elderly residents and individuals with disabilities. The refunds are based on existing laws (chapters 10-18A and 10-45A), with up to $20,000 allowed for administrative costs. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation and requires unspent funds by June 30, 2027, to revert to the general fund. It directly affects eligible elderly and disabled taxpayers by providing financial relief on specific taxes.
HB 1086 appropriates $2.7 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Corrections for a grant to a nonprofit organization. The nonprofit must provide trauma-informed programming - including leadership development and skills training - to both offenders and correctional staff at three specific state prisons: South Dakota State Penitentiary, Mike Durfee State Prison, and South Dakota Women's Prison. To qualify, the nonprofit must currently operate such programming at a state facility and plan to serve all three prisons, as verified by the Department of Corrections. Unspent funds by June 30, 2031, will revert to the state treasury.
This bill appropriates $5.2 million from the state general fund to construct a trades center at Lake Area Technical College, providing new classrooms, labs, and student services for technical training programs. The college must secure matching funds from non-state sources (gifts, grants, etc.) equal to the state appropriation before the funds are released. The legislature declared an emergency to expedite the project, which will not use bonds for completion and requires approval of expenditures by the Department of Education and state auditor. The center directly affects students and staff at Lake Area Technical College by expanding hands-on training facilities.
HB 1073 requires every public and accredited nonpublic school in South Dakota to create a cardiac emergency response plan. The bill mandates schools to develop these plans with local emergency services, including forming response teams, placing accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools and athletic venues, and training staff in CPR and AED use. Schools must conduct annual drills and maintain AEDs, with specific training requirements for coaches, athletic trainers, nurses, and response team members. This law directly affects all South Dakota schools and aims to improve emergency response for heart-related incidents during school activities.
SJR 504 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow South Dakota to authorize mobile and electronic wagering on sporting events. The amendment requires such wagering to be offered only through licensed Deadwood casinos with servers located within Deadwood, and mandates that 90% of tax revenue from these wagers must fund statewide property tax relief or reductions. If approved by voters, this would change the state constitution to permit this new form of betting, which is currently restricted under existing gambling laws. The amendment must be voted on by South Dakota residents at the next general election to take effect.
This bill increases the property tax exemption amount for disabled veterans and surviving spouses in South Dakota. Currently, $350,000 of a home's value is exempt from property taxes under the program; the bill raises this amount but does not specify the new figure in the provided text. It directly affects veterans rated permanently and totally disabled from service-connected disabilities, as well as surviving spouses of such veterans. The change would lower property tax bills for eligible homeowners without altering application requirements or eligibility criteria.
