Technology

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 214: amend provisions pertaining to the publication of the statewide voter registration file.

SB 214 requires South Dakota's Secretary of State to post weekly updates to the statewide voter registration file every Monday by 11:59 p.m. Central Time. It also establishes a rolling five-year historical archive of this data on the Secretary's website, making it freely available. The bill prohibits public access to sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers, driver license numbers, and birth dates within these files. Additionally, it bans selling or using voter data for commercial purposes (with exceptions for political polling), while allowing fees for paper copies of voter lists.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill restricts access to sensitive voter data (SSNs, DOB) and bans commercial use, directly aligning with data privacy protections in technology policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 41: revise a provision related to criminal invasions of privacy, prohibit the creation and distribution of digitally fabricated material of an identifiable individual, and provide penalties therefor.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects civil rights by penalizing non-consensual deepfakes, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits non-consensual deepfakes and digitally fabricated content, directly protecting individuals' privacy through criminal penalties for misuse of technology.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 49: safeguard the integrity, privacy, and security of genetic data and provide a civil penalty therefor.

South Dakota's SB 49 requires direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies to protect consumers' genetic data and privacy. It mandates clear privacy policies, separate express consent for each data use (including research, marketing, or sharing with third parties), and security programs to prevent unauthorized access. Companies must also allow consumers to access, delete their data, or request destruction of biological samples within 30 days of revoking consent. This law directly affects South Dakota residents using these services and genetic testing companies operating in the state.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates genetic data privacy protections, explicit consent, and security measures for companies, aligning with consumer data protection in tech regulation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 98: prevent virtual currency kiosk fraud.

SB 98 requires operators of virtual currency kiosks in South Dakota to obtain a license under existing financial regulations (Chapter 51A-17). It mandates detailed reporting to the state, including transaction volumes, user complaints, refund requests, and suspicious activity. The bill also requires kiosk operators to provide users with receipts containing transaction details, exchange rates, virtual currency addresses, and refund policies. These provisions directly affect kiosk operators (licensees) and users engaging in virtual currency transactions at these locations. The law aims to increase transparency and accountability in virtual currency kiosk operations.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates virtual currency kiosks with licensing and reporting requirements to prevent fraud, aligning with consumer protection in technology regulations.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 111: require that social media companies provide collected personal data of a user at the user's request and maintain transparent interoperability interfaces.

SB 111 requires social media companies operating in South Dakota to give users access to their collected personal data upon request and maintain transparent, publicly available technical standards (open protocols) that allow different social media platforms to share user data. It directly affects social media companies by mandating data access for users and requiring interoperability interfaces that are free from licensing fees or patent restrictions. Key provisions define "personal data" as information linked to an identifiable individual (excluding de-identified or public data) and specify that interoperability must enable data exchange between platforms via open protocols. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes: user data access and standardized data-sharing mechanisms, without specifying enforcement or penalties.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates user data access and transparent interoperability, advancing data privacy and digital rights through consumer control of personal information.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 114: provide for the publication of ballot images and the cast vote record of automatic tabulating equipment.

SB 114 requires South Dakota election officials to make ballot images (digital copies of paper ballots) and cast vote records (electronic records showing how votes were counted) publicly available as public records. However, it prohibits releasing these records if they include voter-identifying details like names, timing of votes, or incomplete precinct data. Specifically, records from precincts with fewer than 100 ballots must be redacted to remove ballot style identifiers and combined with records from other precincts before public release. This law applies directly to local election officials responsible for managing and releasing election data.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates redaction of voter-identifying details in election records, directly protecting data privacy as specified in the topic's indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 75: amend the type of entities eligible to participate in the cybersecurity services initiative.

SB 75 expands eligibility for South Dakota's cybersecurity services initiative to include nonprofit utility companies and utilities operated by local governments (like cities or counties). It appropriates $7 million from the general fund to the Attorney General's Office to fund cybersecurity infrastructure and administrative costs for eligible entities. The bill modifies existing law to allow these newly included organizations to access the initiative's resources, which previously covered only counties and municipalities. Funds must be used to protect IT assets and address specific cybersecurity needs of participating local governments and utilities. The initiative aims to improve cybersecurity across state government and service provider networks.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $7M from general fund for cybersecurity infrastructure, increasing state spending on public service funding per budget topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands cybersecurity funding to nonprofits and local utilities, enhancing infrastructure access per bill's intent to strengthen cybersecurity resources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

passed both · South Dakota · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 110: regulate how broadband internet access service providers use customer data.

SB 110 requires broadband internet providers in South Dakota to obtain explicit customer permission ("opt-in consent") before using, sharing, or selling most types of personal customer data, including location, health details, device identifiers, and financial information. It directly affects broadband service providers (like local internet companies) and their customers by mandating clear consent mechanisms that are easy to understand and use. Key provisions include prohibiting providers from charging higher prices or denying service based on a customer’s refusal to consent, and requiring that consent requests be conspicuous, non-misleading, and available at no extra cost. The law applies specifically to "broadband internet access service providers" as defined in the bill, covering data collected through the customer-provider relationship.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates opt-in consent for data use, strengthening consumer data privacy protections under technology regulations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

Track

failed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SB 205: revise registration fees for drones and establish a fund to support drone aviation.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRevises drone registration fees (tax) to fund drone training grants, directly allocating tax revenue to support workforce development programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirectly funds drone training grants at state technical colleges via new aviation fund, supporting higher education workforce development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates a dedicated fund for drone training grants at technical colleges, directly advancing workforce development in a growing industry and supporting employment standards through skill-building.80% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds drone training grants for industry workforce development, directly advancing drone technology sector through dedicated fee-based funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

Track

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 234: modify provisions pertaining to the purchasing of goods and services related to data center operations.

This bill exempts sales tax on enterprise information technology equipment and computer software purchased for use in South Dakota's qualified data centers. It directly affects data center owners, operators, or tenants (referred to as "qualified businesses") who meet specific criteria, such as having facilities classified as real property subject to taxation and equipped with fire suppression systems. The key mechanism requires businesses to submit documentation to the Department of Revenue to verify eligibility and maintain annual certification. To retain the exemption, businesses must also ensure electric service agreements avoid shifting costs to other customers and confirm water usage compatibility with local providers. The tax exemption applies to equipment like servers, cooling systems, power infrastructure, and security systems used exclusively in these facilities.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts sales tax on data center IT equipment, reducing state tax revenue for qualified businesses.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyTax exemption for data center IT equipment lowers operational costs, incentivizing investment in technology infrastructure and supporting data center growth.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

Track