Healthcare

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1250: revise the types of community-based providers for purposes of state funded services.

HB 1250 updates the list of community-based providers eligible for state-funded services, including Medicaid and other state programs. It adds a provision allowing the secretaries of the Department of Social Services or Human Services to approve new provider types beyond the current list (such as nursing homes, mental health centers, and federally qualified health centers). This change directly affects organizations providing care services that rely on state funding for operations. The key mechanism streamlines eligibility adjustments without requiring new legislation for each new provider type.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands eligibility for community-based healthcare providers (including mental health centers) under state-funded programs, increasing access to services like Medicaid and public health care.92% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1299: permit the use of biological filtration systems in water recreational facilities located in certain lodging establishments.

HB 1299 allows small lodging establishments (with 15 or fewer sleeping rooms) to apply for a permit to use biological filtration systems in their water recreational facilities, such as pools or spas. These systems filter water naturally using plants, beneficial bacteria, and microbes - without relying on continuous chemical disinfectants - to meet public health and safety standards. To obtain a permit, establishments must submit proof the system meets water quality requirements, pay a $50 fee, and undergo annual department inspections. If an inspection fails, the permit is revoked, and reapplication is barred for one year. The bill requires the department to establish rules for applications, maintenance, and testing procedures.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentReduces chemical disinfectant use in water facilities, lowering pollution from synthetic chemicals while meeting public health standards.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures water quality meets public health standards via natural filtration, supporting public health safety in recreational facilities.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1292: limit the ability of a health carrier to recoup, recover, or retroactively deny previously paid claims.

HB 1292 limits South Dakota health insurance companies' ability to take back payments they've already made for medical services. It requires insurers to provide written notice at least 30 days in advance if they seek to recoup a payment, and restricts such actions to claims paid within the previous 18 months (with exceptions for fraud, Medicare/Medicaid, workers' compensation, or duplicate payments). The bill establishes a dispute resolution process through the Division of Insurance for disagreements, preventing insurers from withholding future payments during the review. This directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors and clinics) who receive payments from insurers and the insurers themselves, applying to claims for services provided on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patients from insurers retroactively denying paid claims by requiring notice and limiting recoupment to 18 months, strengthening patient rights in healthcare insurance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1274: prohibit the dispensing, distribution, sale, or advertisement of certain articles or things for purposes of an unlawful abortion and provide a criminal and civil penalty therefor.

HB 1274 prohibits the delivery or distribution of abortion-inducing medicine, drugs, or substances into South Dakota for purposes of an illegal abortion, with exceptions for self-administration by a pregnant person, life-saving medical procedures, or miscarriage management. It establishes a Class 6 felony for violating this prohibition, imposes civil penalties up to $10,000 per dose, and allows civil lawsuits for wrongful death of an unborn child by specific parties (e.g., parents, the pregnant person, or their estate). The bill directly affects medical providers, pharmacies, and anyone transporting such substances into the state, while exempting individuals acting in self-defense or under medical necessity. The attorney general may seek injunctions to stop violations and collect civil penalties for deposit into a state fund.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts access to abortion services (a healthcare component) by prohibiting distribution of abortion-inducing substances, with limited exceptions, directly limiting patient access to reproductive healthcare.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1257: amend the definition of an abortion.

HB 1257 redefines "abortion" in South Dakota law to include any action intending to terminate a pregnancy with knowledge it will likely cause the unborn child's death, while excluding specific medical treatments (like miscarriage care, ectopic pregnancy treatment, or procedures to save the unborn child's life). It requires physicians to determine that a pregnancy poses a "reasonably foreseeable risk of death" to the mother before permitting an abortion, mandates attempts to preserve both lives when possible, and mandates hospital-based reporting to the Department of Health. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals, physicians, and hospitals by setting strict medical criteria for legal abortions and prohibiting abortions based solely on psychological conditions or self-harm fears. It does not criminalize all abortions but creates a narrow exception for life-threatening conditions, with violations classified as Class 6 felonies.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts abortion access by mandating risk assessments and preserving both lives, limiting patient access to healthcare services within the defined medical exceptions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 89: create a task force to study the provision of emergency medical services as an essential service and the funding thereof.

SB 89 requires all South Dakota counties and municipalities to ensure a minimum level of emergency medical services (including response times, staffing, and treatment protocols) are available within their boundaries for prehospital care. It directs the state health department to create rules defining these minimum standards, covering aspects like ambulance response and required personnel. The bill also establishes a legislative task force to study funding mechanisms for these services and report recommendations by November 2026. The law would take effect on July 1, 2028, impacting local governments responsible for emergency medical service provision.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates minimum EMS standards for access, strengthens public health infrastructure, task force studies funding to support implementation95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1148: adopt the respiratory care interstate compact.

HB 1148 adopts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, allowing respiratory therapists licensed in South Dakota to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill also requires respiratory care practitioners to undergo a criminal background check and submit fingerprints as part of their South Dakota licensure application. This compact aims to increase access to respiratory therapy services, support military families by easing relocation for therapists, and address workforce shortages through streamlined interstate practice. It preserves each state’s authority to regulate licensure and protect public health while creating a standardized process for therapists moving across state lines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases access to respiratory therapy services by enabling cross-state practice under the interstate compact, directly improving patient access to healthcare professionals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1149: adopt the athletic trainer licensure compact.

HB 1149 adopts the Athletic Trainer Licensure Compact, allowing South Dakota to join a multi-state agreement that enables licensed athletic trainers from participating states to practice in South Dakota without obtaining a separate license. The bill requires athletic trainers seeking to practice under the compact to undergo a fingerprint-based criminal background check (paid by the trainer) and establishes mutual recognition of licenses across member states. Key provisions include reducing administrative burdens for trainers, improving access to athletic care through streamlined interstate practice, and ensuring states maintain authority to regulate practice within their borders. This directly affects athletic trainers seeking to work across state lines and patients in South Dakota who may access care from out-of-state professionals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables athletic trainers (healthcare professionals) to practice across state lines without extra licensure, improving access to their services. Directly supports healthcare via medical professionals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1140: permit a court to impose as a condition of probation, or parole in certain circumstances, treatment at a nonprofit entity awarded an alternative care program grant.

HB 1140 allows South Dakota courts to require defendants on probation or parole to complete treatment at nonprofit organizations that have received state grants for "alternative care programs," specifically for individuals convicted of repeat DUI/DWI offenses. The bill adds this option as a condition of probation (under § 23A-27-18.3), requiring the defendant’s consent, program availability, and pre-sentencing application approval. It directly affects individuals convicted of third or fourth DUI/DWI offenses who are on probation or parole, offering an alternative to jail time through treatment. The law modifies driver’s license revocation rules (§ 32-23-4 and 32-23-4.6), allowing courts to permit limited driving (e.g., for work or treatment) upon successful completion of such programs. This creates a concrete pathway for court-mandated treatment instead of incarceration for eligible offenders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates treatment for repeat DUI offenders via approved nonprofits, reducing recidivism through rehabilitation instead of punishment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates substance abuse treatment via state-funded grants for DUI offenders, improving healthcare access and supporting treatment services as a health service.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1183: revise qualifications for immunity from prosecution following a drug-related overdose.

HB 1183 revises South Dakota's law granting immunity from prosecution for drug possession charges after an overdose. It directly affects individuals experiencing a drug-related overdose who contact emergency services for medical help. The key change specifies that immunity only applies if the evidence used for any charges stems from the overdose event itself and the need for medical assistance. This clarifies eligibility for the existing immunity provision, requiring that the evidence leading to prosecution originated during the overdose situation. The bill does not expand immunity but refines the conditions under which it applies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies immunity for overdose callers seeking medical help, reducing criminalization of drug use during emergencies and aligning with public health-focused criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies immunity for seeking overdose medical help, removing legal barriers to emergency care access, aligning with public health safety goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare