Scored 8/10 on whether it helps or hurts everyday people.
The Network Penalty Bill
South Dakota moves to ban out-of-network penalty fees
Prohibit the assessment of certain administrative fees or penalties related to the provision of care by an out-of-network provider.
Good for everyday people ·
This bill would stop health insurance companies from charging you or your doctor extra penalty fees just because you saw a doctor outside your network.
Our take
What we think, in plain words.
Getting sick is stressful enough without worrying about hidden fees. When you need to see a doctor who is not in your insurance network, you should just pay for the care itself. You should not have to pay extra penalty fees on top of it. This bill would protect patients and doctors from those unfair charges. It is a good step to make healthcare pricing more honest.
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The facts
What the bill actually says, no spin.
- The bill bans extra administrative fees for out-of-network care.
- It stops penalties that punish people for seeing certain doctors.
- The exact details are short, but the goal is to cut hidden healthcare costs.
- The bill was recently delayed in a Senate committee.
How they voted
The actual floor vote, and who broke from their own party.
Want to see how your representatives voted on this? Find your reps →
- Kevin Jensen (R): voted against it, crossing most Republicans
- Sydney Davis (R): voted against it, crossing most Republicans
In the news
Scanning the news for this bill…
Headlines gathered from across the news, starting points to explore, not endorsements. Always read the official text before acting.
Sources
Read it yourself: the official bill and records.
This bill is in the South Dakota Bill Book 2026
The best and worst South Dakota bills of 2026, one page each — our take on the left, the bill on the right, and room for your notes. No email needed.
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