Technology

SB 41 revises South Dakota's criminal invasion of privacy law to prohibit creating, distributing, or selling digitally manipulated images or videos that falsely depict an identifiable person as nude or engaged in sexual acts. It specifically targets content that appears authentic to an ordinary person but was altered to misrepresent the individual. The law defines "digitally fabricated material" as manipulated images, videos, or depictions that falsely show an identifiable person in states of nudity or sexual activity. Violating this provision is a Class 5 felony, with penalties applying when the manipulated content is shared to harass or embarrass the person depicted.

HB 1048 appropriates $87 million in federal funds to the Governor's Office of Economic Development for grants expanding broadband infrastructure across South Dakota, primarily benefiting rural and underserved communities lacking reliable internet access. The bill authorizes the office to distribute grants under federal broadband program guidelines, with payments processed through state vouchers and audits. It declares an emergency to expedite implementation, allowing the funding to take effect immediately upon passage. Unspent funds must revert to the state treasury per standard procedures, as specified in Chapter 4-8 of South Dakota law. This is a funding measure focused on infrastructure deployment, not regulatory changes.

SB 135 requires data center operators to pay all electricity costs associated with their facilities, preventing utilities from raising residential rates to cover these expenses (Section 3). It also prohibits tax exemptions for data centers (Section 5) and ensures local governments retain authority to regulate data center development (Section 4). The bill mandates data centers to report projected water usage to local providers and the Board of Water Management before operation, with annual reports on actual consumption (Sections 6-7), ensuring water allocation prioritizes residential and essential services. This directly affects data center operators, utilities, and South Dakota residents by limiting cost-shifting and protecting local resource management.

HB 1305 prohibits sharing the home, work, or school location of a public officer (current or former) or their family without consent, specifically when intended to harass, threaten, or cause fear for safety. It makes violations a Class 6 felony and creates a civil lawsuit option for affected officers to recover damages (including emotional distress), attorney fees, and punitive damages. The law directly affects public officers and their households by restricting location information dissemination under these conditions. It applies regardless of whether criminal charges are filed for the same act.