Labor & Employment

SB 63 establishes a State Office of Apprenticeship within South Dakota's Department of Labor and Regulation. The office will serve as the state's main agency for apprenticeships, setting standards for training programs, promoting apprenticeship opportunities, and resolving disputes between apprentices and employers. It directly affects apprentices, employers, and training programs participating in registered apprenticeships across South Dakota. The office will implement federal apprenticeship standards effective January 1, 2026, as outlined in 29 C.F.R. § 29.1-29.14.

SB 205 revises drone registration fees in South Dakota, charging 1.5% of purchase price for agricultural drones and 2% for all other drones. The collected fees fund a new "drone aviation fund" administered by the Board of Technical Education to support drone training grants at state technical colleges. This bill directly affects drone owners (especially agricultural users) by changing their registration tax rates and creating a dedicated funding source for drone industry workforce development. The fund will receive all drone registration fees and interest, with expenditures requiring annual budget approval. The bill does not apply to small unmanned aircraft systems covered under federal regulations.