HB 1143 allows students with diabetes to possess and self-administer nasal glucagon (a medication for severe low blood sugar) on school property or at school events. It directly affects students diagnosed with diabetes who require this specific treatment. The bill requires a licensed healthcare provider’s diagnosis, written parent authorization, and a physician’s statement detailing the medication’s purpose, dosage, and administration guidelines to be kept on file at the school. Schools must maintain these documents in the student’s health record or with the school nurse. This change expands existing provisions for asthma and anaphylaxis medications to include nasal glucagon for diabetes management.
South Dakota would join the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, allowing physician assistants (PAs) licensed in other participating states to practice in South Dakota without obtaining a separate state license. This directly affects PAs - especially active-duty military personnel and their spouses - who can use their existing license from another participating state to practice in South Dakota. The key mechanism is the "Compact Privilege," which permits PAs to provide medical services where the patient is located, while maintaining patient safety through existing state licensing board oversight. This reduces licensing barriers for PAs and improves access to medical care across state lines.
South Dakota's SB 87 ensures counties cover the full cost of forensic medical examinations for victims of sexual assault or rape, eliminating out-of-pocket expenses for victims. The bill specifies covered costs include physician services, necessary tests (like STD screenings and pregnancy tests), supplies, and medications, with payments capped at Medicaid rates. It allows minors aged 16+ to consent to exams without parental permission and permits exams for protected persons without guardian consent, provided informed consent is obtained. Hospitals and clinics cannot bill victims beyond these Medicaid-based limits, and must notify victims of their no-cost access regardless of cooperation with law enforcement.
HB 1043 allocates $978,294 to reimburse 12 specific rural healthcare professionals (4 family physicians, 2 physician assistants, and 6 nurse practitioners) who met requirements under §34-12G-3 for rural recruitment programs. It also allocates $370,000 to reimburse other eligible healthcare professionals meeting requirements under §34-12G-12. The funds come from the state general fund and are intended to cover costs incurred by providers who participated in designated rural recruitment initiatives. The bill declares an emergency to expedite funding, with unspent funds reverting per standard procedures.
SB 8 allows South Dakota public schools to stock and administer epinephrine nasal spray (in addition to auto-injectors) for students experiencing severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) during school hours. It requires schools to adopt clear policies for storage and use, notify parents about these policies, and train designated staff (like school nurses) to recognize allergic reactions, administer the nasal spray, and provide emergency care. The bill also provides liability protection for schools and staff who follow the protocol, shielding them from ordinary negligence claims when acting in good faith during emergencies. This directly affects all public school districts, students with allergies, and school personnel authorized to respond to allergic emergencies.
SB 104 requires South Dakota's Medicaid program to reimburse licensed therapists for equine-assisted therapy. The bill mandates reimbursement for physical therapists, occupational therapists, or speech-language pathologists who provide therapy using horse-human interactions to help patients meet treatment goals. This applies to Medicaid recipients and requires the state to submit a federal plan amendment by August 1, 2026, to implement the coverage. The law specifically defines "therapy using equine movement" as therapeutic activities leveraging horse interactions to achieve clinical objectives.
This bill appropriates $500 million in federal funds to the South Dakota Department of Health to implement the rural health transformation program, authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. L. No. 119-21). It directly affects rural healthcare providers and facilities by funding program implementation. Key provisions include requiring the health secretary to approve vouchers for payments and mandating unspent funds by June 30, 2031, to revert per state law. The bill also declares an emergency to expedite its implementation upon passage.
South Dakota's Senate Concurrent Resolution 603 supports the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in establishing a federal working group of nutrition experts to develop evidence-based national standards for foods and beverages that can be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The resolution does not create new law but urges Congress to pass legislation implementing the working group’s recommendations, which would align SNAP purchasing rules with current nutrition science and dietary guidelines. It directly affects the federal SNAP program, which provides food assistance to millions of low-income Americans, including South Dakota residents. The resolution emphasizes that national standards require federal action to ensure consistency, avoid state administrative costs, and prevent future policy reversals. This is a supportive measure for federal policy development, not a direct change to SNAP benefits or eligibility.
