Environment

Senate Concurrent Resolution 605 is a non-binding resolution recognizing the monarch butterfly's ecological importance and encouraging voluntary conservation efforts in South Dakota. It urges state agencies, local governments, and land managers to preserve existing milkweed habitats where practical and prioritize pollinator-friendly native seed mixes - including milkweed - in plantings that align with land management goals. The resolution specifically emphasizes voluntary cooperation with landowners and agricultural operations, avoiding regulatory impacts, while urging federal agencies to support these efforts through technical assistance. It does not create new legal requirements but formally supports existing conservation practices.

HB 1103 requires that any annual withdrawal of groundwater from a source cannot exceed the natural annual recharge rate of that source. The bill amends groundwater appropriation rules to prohibit approving new water rights if withdrawal would exceed recharge, based on available data. It directly affects applicants seeking groundwater rights, including agricultural users, municipalities, and industries. An exception allows withdrawals exceeding recharge for older groundwater formations used by public water systems.