Key legislators
Who's moving transportation in South Dakota
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bills
All transportation bills
HB 1245 allows South Dakota municipalities to create a local tax (up to 1% on taxable sales) to fund capital projects like infrastructure repairs, equipment purchases, or building renovations. To implement this, a municipality must form a Capital Improvement Board (with 1 elected official and 4 residents) to review proposals, secure board approval, and then hold a voter referendum requiring 60% support. All tax revenue must be placed in a special fund dedicated exclusively to approved capital projects, with the tax expiring after 60 months or once the targeted revenue amount is met. Municipalities cannot use this tax if they’ve imposed it within the previous 24 months.
SB 236 creates a new "county and township infrastructure fund" in South Dakota's state treasury to manage unspent money from existing rural access infrastructure funds. It requires counties to transfer any unobligated funds (money not committed to specific projects) by June 30, 2029, to this state fund instead of letting them revert to the general budget. The fund will hold these unspent moneys for future allocation to counties, following existing rules for rural road projects, and will be administered by the Department of Revenue. This bill does not change how funds are spent but provides a formal mechanism for accounting, safekeeping, and future distribution of leftover funds.
HB 1010 modifies South Dakota's law banning mobile device use while driving by adding specific exceptions to the existing prohibition. It allows hands-free navigation (without manual entry), limited phone call functions (like dialing or answering), emergency communications (911 calls, reporting accidents/crimes), and handheld device use while operating agricultural equipment under 25 mph (excluding trucks). The law directly affects all drivers in South Dakota, with exemptions for first responders during emergencies and specific scenarios like navigation or agricultural work. Violations remain Class 2 misdemeanors, but the bill clarifies permitted uses to reduce unintended penalties.
