Maddy summaryHB 1140 allows South Dakota courts to require defendants on probation or parole to complete treatment at nonprofit organizations that have received state grants for "alternative care programs," specifically for individuals convicted of repeat DUI/DWI offenses. The bill adds this option as a condition of probation (under § 23A-27-18.3), requiring the defendant’s consent, program availability, and pre-sentencing application approval. It directly affects individuals convicted of third or fourth DUI/DWI offenses who are on probation or parole, offering an alternative to jail time through treatment. The law modifies driver’s license revocation rules (§ 32-23-4 and 32-23-4.6), allowing courts to permit limited driving (e.g., for work or treatment) upon successful completion of such programs. This creates a concrete pathway for court-mandated treatment instead of incarceration for eligible offenders.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1175 revises South Dakota law to clarify that the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe (and other Indian tribes) can request background checks through the Division of Criminal Investigation for specific tribal positions. It directly affects tribal members seeking roles as tribal council members, judges, conservation officers, educators, child protection workers, and others listed in the bill. The key mechanism requires tribes to submit applicants' fingerprints to the state division, which then forwards them to the FBI for a national check if no state-level disqualifications exist, with tribes or applicants covering processing fees.
Maddy summaryHB 1215 allows South Dakota counties and municipalities to issue licenses for cigar bars, directly affecting business owners seeking to operate such establishments and local governments responsible for licensing. The bill requires cigar bars to have a humidor, be fully enclosed with proper ventilation, generate at least 10% of income from cigar sales, and prohibit all tobacco products except cigars. Local governments must hold public hearings for applications and report annual cigar sales income to the Department of Revenue, while also posting clear smoking restrictions. The law explicitly excludes these venues from other liquor license limits and prohibits transferring licenses to new owners.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a taskforce to study how South Dakota could establish Medicaid managed care entities specifically serving tribal communities, as defined under federal law. The taskforce includes representatives from all federally recognized South Dakota tribes, state health and social services agencies, healthcare providers, insurance companies, and tribal relations officials. It must gather input from stakeholders and submit findings and potential legislation to the Governor by December 2028. The bill does not implement new programs but sets a process for evaluating this option.
Maddy summarySB 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.
Maddy summaryHB 1101 prohibits insurers from denying or limiting life, disability, or long-term care insurance coverage solely because someone is a living organ donor. It specifically bans insurers from: (1) refusing coverage based on donor status, (2) requiring donors to stop donating to maintain coverage, or (3) charging higher premiums or imposing other restrictions due to donor status alone. The bill ensures that living organ donors cannot face insurance discrimination without evidence of actual increased health risk. This directly protects individuals who donate organs while alive from unfair treatment by insurance companies.
Maddy summaryHB 1176 clarifies that South Dakota courts may require defendants to participate in a 24/7 sobriety program as a condition of bond or pre-trial release. It prevents defendants from being jailed or having their release revoked solely due to inability to pay program costs, unless a court finds they could pay but willfully avoided doing so. Defendants must prove they didn’t willfully skip payments or made a genuine effort to pay. Unpaid program costs may later be added to a defendant’s sentence if the court determines they have the ability to pay. The bill directly affects individuals in criminal cases offered this program.
Maddy summaryHB 1143 allows students with diabetes to possess and self-administer nasal glucagon (a medication for severe low blood sugar) on school property or at school events. It directly affects students diagnosed with diabetes who require this specific treatment. The bill requires a licensed healthcare provider’s diagnosis, written parent authorization, and a physician’s statement detailing the medication’s purpose, dosage, and administration guidelines to be kept on file at the school. Schools must maintain these documents in the student’s health record or with the school nurse. This change expands existing provisions for asthma and anaphylaxis medications to include nasal glucagon for diabetes management.
Maddy summarySouth Dakota's SB 87 ensures counties cover the full cost of forensic medical examinations for victims of sexual assault or rape, eliminating out-of-pocket expenses for victims. The bill specifies covered costs include physician services, necessary tests (like STD screenings and pregnancy tests), supplies, and medications, with payments capped at Medicaid rates. It allows minors aged 16+ to consent to exams without parental permission and permits exams for protected persons without guardian consent, provided informed consent is obtained. Hospitals and clinics cannot bill victims beyond these Medicaid-based limits, and must notify victims of their no-cost access regardless of cooperation with law enforcement.
Maddy summaryHB 1007 amends South Dakota's legal definition of "law enforcement officer" to explicitly include tribal law enforcement officers. This change directly affects tribal law enforcement personnel by ensuring they are recognized under the same legal definitions as state and local officers. The bill modifies Section 22-1-2 of state law to add tribal officers to the definition, aligning their status with other law enforcement roles. This is a technical definitional update with no new requirements or funding impacts.