Technology

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 1280: increase penalties for the operation of drones over certain facilities and to provide for mitigation techniques and countermeasures.

HB 1280 prohibits drone use for surveillance, recording, or interference at South Dakota state military installations, facilities, aircraft, vehicles, or weapons systems without prior written consent from the facility commander. Violating this prohibition is classified as a Class 6 felony. The bill authorizes law enforcement to intercept or disable such drones using jamming, hacking, or physical capture - excluding firearms - if there is reasonable suspicion of an imminent threat to public safety. Drones used in violations may be forfeited, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of by court order.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts drone surveillance at military facilities, limiting tech application without privacy/security benefits90% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 232: impose a one-year moratorium on the construction or expansion of hyperscale data centers.

SB 232 imposes a one-year moratorium (through June 30, 2027) on building new hyperscale data centers or expanding existing ones to meet the hyperscale definition in South Dakota. A "hyperscale data center" is defined as a facility with peak electrical demand of 50 megawatts or greater, used for storing, managing, and processing large volumes of electronic data. The moratorium applies to both new construction and expansions that would cause a facility to reach or exceed the 50-megawatt threshold. This bill directly affects data center developers and operators planning projects meeting the specified size criteria.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly restricts construction/expansion of hyperscale data centers (key tech infrastructure), directly limiting sector growth per defined thresholds.95% confidence

Track

died · South Dakota · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 1304: allow subdivisions to limit the operation of drones at open-air events.

HB 1304 (South Dakota House Bill 1304) allows cities, counties, and other local subdivisions to create reasonable rules restricting drone flights at specific large outdoor events. It directly affects event organizers and attendees at parades, festivals, state/county fairs, air shows, sporting events, and similar gatherings drawing crowds. The bill authorizes local governments to implement these restrictions to protect privacy and prevent trespass, as outlined in the new provisions added to South Dakota law. The key mechanism is granting subdivisions authority to enact such rules through ordinances or resolutions, without requiring state-level approval.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts drone operations at events to prevent trespass/protect privacy, limiting technology application per bill's purpose.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

Track

passed · South Dakota · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SB 66: prohibit the use of automatic tabulating equipment and electronic ballot marking systems.

SB 66 prohibits South Dakota election officials from using automatic tabulating equipment or electronic ballot marking systems for any election. The bill requires all ballots to be hand-counted manually in public view, replacing electronic processing with paper-based counting. It directly affects county auditors, precinct election boards, and all election administrators responsible for ballot handling and counting. The law mandates that ballots must be printed on paper (not processed electronically), with all vote counts performed manually after polls close, eliminating electronic tabulation entirely.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly prohibits electronic ballot systems, restricting technology use in elections per its title and summary.95% confidence

Tags Elections

Track

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 127: limit nuisances caused by data centers.

SB 127 limits data center operations to reduce disruptions for nearby residents. It prohibits new data centers within one mile of residential areas (though local governments can set stricter rules) and caps continuous noise at 45 decibels near residential property lines. The bill defines data centers broadly to include cloud services, cryptocurrency mining, and streaming platforms. Violations would be deemed legal nuisances, allowing state attorneys or affected residents to seek court orders to stop the disruptions.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts data center locations near residences and caps noise, defining data centers broadly to include tech services, directly limiting tech infrastructure deployment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

Track

died · South Dakota · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1144: restrict the use of artificial intelligence in therapy and psychotherapy services and to provide a penalty therefor.

HB 1144 would restrict how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in therapy and psychotherapy services in South Dakota. Licensed therapists (including psychologists, social workers, counselors, and marriage and family therapists) would be prohibited from using AI to make treatment decisions, interact directly with clients during sessions, generate treatment plans without review, or detect emotions - except for specific administrative tasks like scheduling, billing, or anonymized data analysis. The bill requires written client consent for AI recording of sessions, with strict rules against obtaining consent through vague agreements or deceptive tactics. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $10,000 per incident, with therapists retaining full responsibility for all AI-assisted interactions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts AI in therapy to maintain human oversight, protecting patient care in mental health services per bill's intent.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly prohibits AI use in therapy decisions, client interactions, and treatment planning, directly restricting technology application in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

Track

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 135: protect residents from increased utility costs and utility shortages caused by data centers and clarify authority to regulate data centers.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProhibits tax exemptions for data centers (Section 5), closing a tax loophole and increasing state revenue, aligning with fiscal responsibility and budget management.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyPrevents utility rate hikes for residents by requiring data centers to cover electricity costs, protecting consumers from increased energy expenses.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill imposes financial burdens (electricity costs, tax exemptions) and regulatory restrictions on data centers, directly limiting their operational flexibility without advancing tech policy goals.92% confidence

passed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 168: regulate the use of chatbots by minors.

SB 168 regulates chatbots used by minors in South Dakota. It prohibits deployers (companies or developers) from making AI-companion chatbots - designed to form emotional bonds - available to minors without age verification (e.g., checking ID). Instead, deployers must implement age verification for such chatbots or remove all human-like features to allow minor access. Therapy chatbots may be offered to minors only with clear disclaimers, clinical evidence of safety/efficacy, and oversight by a licensed mental health professional who assesses suitability and monitors use. The bill also requires emergency response systems for crisis situations and limits data collection to necessary purposes.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI chatbot deployment for minors via mandatory age verification and feature limitations, directly limiting tech usage without explicit consumer protection benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Online Safety Social Media

Track

signed · South Dakota · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1054: repeal the creation and budgeting for the Digital Dakota Network.

HB 1054 repeals the creation and budgeting requirements for South Dakota's Digital Dakota Network. The bill removes specific statutory provisions that established the network's structure, budgeting process, and the separate Office of Digital Dakota Network within the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications. It transfers all remaining network-related functions - including management, programming, and budgeting - directly to the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications. This change eliminates the network as a distinct program and ends the requirement for the Bureau to submit separate budgets for it. The bill directly affects the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications, which will now manage all telecommunications network operations under existing authority.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRepeals budgeting and structure of Digital Dakota Network, eliminating dedicated tech infrastructure program and transferring functions to general bureau.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telecommunications

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 44: establish investigative subpoena authority to gather business records in certain investigations.

SB 44 allows South Dakota's Attorney General to obtain business records from internet and telecom providers during criminal investigations of internet crimes against children or human trafficking. It requires judicial approval based on "reasonable cause" before issuing subpoenas for specific records like IP addresses, account details, and device information. Hughes County judges have statewide authority to approve these subpoenas, which cannot notify account holders, and obtained records must be used solely for law enforcement with privacy safeguards. The bill directly affects providers (including internet and telecom companies) by mandating compliance with court-ordered requests for targeted data.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSB 44 provides law enforcement with subpoena authority for business records in serious crimes (internet crimes against children, human trafficking), enhancing investigative capabilities within the criminal justice system.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill enables law enforcement to access user data without notice, weakening privacy protections for individuals in criminal investigations.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Telecommunications