Budget & Taxes (Appropriations)

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 20: make an appropriation for tax refunds for elderly persons and persons with a disability, and to declare an emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax refunds for elderly/disabled, reducing their tax burden per existing laws, aligning with tax relief indicators for vulnerable groups.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Property Tax State Budget

in committee · South Dakota · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 174: make an appropriation to defray the operational costs of school districts.

Senate Bill 174 appropriates $5 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Education to help cover school districts' operational costs, such as staffing and supplies. The funds will be distributed directly to school districts based on each district's 2026 fall enrollment relative to the state's total enrollment. Districts must use the funds for day-to-day operational expenses, not capital projects, and any unspent money by June 30, 2027, will revert to the state. This bill affects all public school districts in South Dakota through their 2026 enrollment figures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $5M from general fund to fund school operational costs, directly supporting public education spending within state budget framework.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $5M for school districts' operational costs (staffing/supplies), directly funding day-to-day educational operations per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget School Funding

Track

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 116: make an appropriation for the design and construction of an indoor athletics facility at Dakota State University and to declare an emergency.

SB 116 appropriates $13.33 million for the design and construction of an indoor athletic facility at Dakota State University's Beacom PREMIER Complex in Madison. It directly affects Dakota State University's athletic programs and campus infrastructure. The bill authorizes the Board of Regents to use the funds for the project, including related services like utilities and landscaping, and allows adjustments for inflation (capped at 125% of the original estimate). It also permits accepting additional funds from federal sources or donations into a dedicated project fund, while declaring an emergency to expedite the funding. The facility will support athletic practice and competition, with no state liability for related expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates $13.33M for university facility construction, directly allocating state budget funds under public construction and higher education subjects.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds athletic facility construction at Dakota State University (higher education), directly supporting campus infrastructure under education topic's infrastructure focus.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Higher Education

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 69: make an appropriation for the purchase of a new Division of Highway Patrol airplane and mission equipment and to declare an emergency.

SB 69 appropriates $5 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety for purchasing a new Highway Patrol airplane, related mission equipment, and installation. This bill directly affects the Highway Patrol division by funding equipment upgrades for aerial operations. The key mechanism is a specific budget allocation with a requirement that unspent funds revert per state procedures. The bill also declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $5M for Highway Patrol equipment, funding a public safety program through direct budget allocation per state fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds Highway Patrol aircraft for road safety, directly enhancing transportation infrastructure operations and safety protocols.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Procurement State Budget Roads & Highways

in committee · South Dakota · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 1213: make an appropriation for a statewide educator retention initiative.

HB 1213 appropriates $2.5 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Education for a statewide educator retention initiative. The bill provides grants to public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to address retention challenges, using both quantitative and qualitative data to identify and resolve underlying issues. School districts must apply for funding, with grants covering program costs during fiscal years 2026-2029, and the Department may use up to 5% of the appropriation for administration. This initiative requires a comprehensive approach to support educators, with funds allocated based on approved applications and expiring June 30, 2029.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2.5M from general fund for educator retention grants, advancing public education funding through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $2.5M for educator retention grants to address teacher shortages, directly supporting teacher retention and school stability through funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Teachers

Track

signed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 25, 2026

SB 67: make an appropriation for costs related to emergencies and disasters impacting the state and to declare an emergency.

SB 67 appropriates $4,205,497 from the general fund to a special emergency and disaster fund for costs related to emergencies or disasters impacting South Dakota, as defined by existing law. The bill directs the Department of Public Safety Secretary to approve payments and the state auditor to issue warrants for these expenses. It also declares an immediate state emergency to authorize the spending, effective upon passage. The funding directly supports state agencies managing disaster-related costs, with no new policy provisions beyond the financial allocation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $4.2M from general fund for disaster management, directly funding state emergency response under budgetary authority.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability State Budget Tags Emergency Management

in committee · South Dakota · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1072: provide an appropriation for a payment for state employee salaries.

HB 1072 allocates $20.6 million in state and federal funds to provide South Dakota state employees with a payment equal to 1.5% of their January 1, 2026 salary. Starting July 1, 2026, each active state employee as of that date will receive this amount monthly in 12 equal installments. The payment applies only to employees still working at the time of each monthly disbursement, meaning no payments are made to those who left state employment before a payment date. The funds must be expended by June 30, 2027, with unused amounts reverting to the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $20.6M in state/federal funds for state employee salary payments via appropriation, directly advancing budget allocation for public sector compensation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides 1.5% salary payment to active state employees via $20.6M appropriation, directly increasing compensation for state workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Public Employees

Track

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 136: make an appropriation for grants to support the purchase of personal protective equipment by volunteer fire departments and to declare an emergency.

This bill appropriates $5 million from the general fund to provide grants for volunteer fire departments in South Dakota to purchase safety gear (like helmets and suits) for their firefighters. It specifically targets departments where at least 70% of firefighters volunteer, prioritizing those with the greatest equipment needs. The Department of Public Safety will distribute funds based on application timing and need, with unspent funds reverting by June 2030. An emergency declaration allows the funding to take effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $5M from general fund for essential fire department PPE grants, advancing public safety funding through direct budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds PPE for volunteer firefighters, directly improving workplace safety standards for a specific labor group under Labor & Employment policies.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Tags Public Safety

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SB 118: deposit certain tax revenues into a homeowner tax reduction fund.

SB 118 creates a "homeowner tax reduction fund" in South Dakota's state treasury. Each year by January 31st, the treasurer must deposit either $100 million or 0.3% of revenues collected from specific property taxes (chapters 10-45, 10-46, 10-46E, 10-58, and § 32-5B-20) into this fund. The Department of Revenue will use these funds to provide property tax rebates for owner-occupied single-family homes, with money in the fund not allowed to transfer to the general fund and requiring annual budgeting through the general appropriation bill. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates fund for property tax rebates on owner-occupied homes, providing direct tax relief to homeowners per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Property Tax State Budget

Track

signed · South Dakota · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 1021: authorize the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources to dismantle and demolish buildings on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency.

HB 1021 authorizes South Dakota's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources to dismantle and demolish specific structures at the South Dakota State Fairgrounds in Huron, including barns at Livestock Avenue and Market Street and Quonset huts on Lincoln Avenue South. The bill appropriates $337,000 for this work and allows the department to accept additional funding from federal sources or donations. It declares an emergency to expedite the demolition, repair infrastructure, and clear the land, with all funds restricted to these specific projects. The measure directly affects the physical property of the fairgrounds, not broader public policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $337,000 for specific infrastructure demolition, directly allocating state budget funds for a designated project.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations