South Dakota Bill Book

The bill would let property taxes keep growing without a limit, making homeowners pay more over time.

Citizens could see bigger tax bills on their homes, while the state gains extra revenue; now is the chance to push back before it passes.

Government Power

• Accountability (neutral) — no new oversight. No new accountability measures are added.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — homeowners lose protection. Removes cap on tax growth, reducing homeowner safeguards.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — homeowners pay more. Tax increases shift to property owners.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — standard process. Bill follows normal legislative steps.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — benefits state coffers. Potential higher tax receipts for the state.

• Official text (SD HB1032)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26816
• LegiScan — HB1032https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1032/2026

The bill would stop any food with lab‑grown protein from being made, sold, or shipped in South Dakota, limiting consumer choice.

People could lose access to new sustainable foods while big meat companies keep their market monopoly. The ban could set a precedent for other states, so now is the time to speak up before it spreads.

Big Business

• Accountability (hurts) — restricts accountability. removes legal pathway for producers, limiting oversight
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — removes consumer choice. bans a class of food products, limiting options for shoppers
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — costs fall on innovators and consumers. new producers must stop, consumers may face higher prices for alternatives
• Process Transparency (neutral) — no extra transparency. bill text is brief and does not add reporting requirements
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no funding mentioned. the bill does not allocate money or create new fees

• Official text (SD HB1057)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26414
• LegiScan — HB1057https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1057/2026

The bill would make kratom illegal in South Dakota and let the state fine anyone who sells or uses it.

People who enjoy kratom would lose a legal way to get it, and they could face fines, while the state gains more control over a controversial plant.

Government Power

• Accountability (neutral) — state can enforce ban. gives the government power to police kratom use
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — ban restricts personal freedom. makes kratom illegal and adds penalties
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — penalties fall on users and sellers. people could be fined for possession or sale
• Process Transparency (neutral) — bill text is straightforward. no hidden clauses or complex language
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no new funding required. the bill does not allocate money

• Official text (SD SB77)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26668
• LegiScan — SB77https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/SB77/2026

This bill would let people buy guns without paying sales tax, which might make guns cheaper.

If this bill passes, it could help gun sellers by making firearms more affordable, but it shifts tax costs to everyone else.

Big Business

• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Shifts tax burden.. Less tax revenue means other taxpayers may pay more.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process.. Introduced and referred to committee.

• Official text (SD HB1191)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/27100
• LegiScan — HB1191https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1191/2026

Schools could not spend taxpayer money to support a teachers' union or its affiliate, and could be fined for doing so.

This bill tries to keep your tax dollars away from union politics, but it could weaken teachers' bargaining power and limit their ability to protect classroom resources.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — adds penalties. schools could be fined for using funds to support unions
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — limits union support. prevents schools from spending money to back labor organizations
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — shifts cost to schools. penalties fall on school districts, not taxpayers
• Process Transparency (neutral) — no new transparency. standard legislative process
• Funding Tilt (helps) — tilts funds away from unions. restricts use of tax money for union activities

• Official text (SD HB1217)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/27126
• LegiScan — HB1217https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1217/2026

The bill would let data center owners skip sales tax on equipment and services, saving them money but costing the state revenue.

Citizens should watch because the tax break could mean less money for schools and roads, while data center firms get a big discount and may attract more investment.

Data centers

• Accountability (neutral) — exemption reduces oversight of tax revenue. Skipping tax on data center purchases lowers the state's ability to track revenue from that sector.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — no direct impact on personal rights. The bill does not change any individual legal protections.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — cost shifts to all taxpayers. Lost tax revenue must be made up by the state, likely affecting public services.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — standard legislative process. The bill follows normal committee referral and hearing steps.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — tilts tax benefits toward data center industry. Provides a financial advantage specifically to data center operators.

Pushing for it: Data center operators
Bearing the cost: Taxpayers

• Official text (SD HB1005)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26317
• LegiScan — HB1005https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1005/2026

The bill would make fishing guides get a state license and could fine them if they work without it.

Guides would have to pay for a license, which could raise their costs, but tourists would get more reliable, vetted services.

Fishing guides

• Accountability (helps) — guides can be penalized for unlicensed work. creates enforceable licensing
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — guides lose ability to work without a license. adds restriction on guide activities
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — guides must pay licensing fees. cost shifts to guide operators
• Process Transparency (neutral) — no details on how licensing will be administered. information not provided
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no funding source mentioned. unknown financial impact

• Official text (SD HB1122)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26847
• LegiScan — HB1122https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1122/2026

This bill would stop therapists from using AI tools in their work, which could affect how people get help.

Limiting AI in therapy might protect personal connections, but it could also reduce options for help. Now is the time to think about how this affects you.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — The bill aims to provide penalties.. The penalties may hold therapists accountable.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — It protects the traditional therapy method.. It ensures that human therapists are central to care.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs may shift but are unclear.. Unknown how this will affect therapy costs.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — The bill is still in early stages.. More discussion is needed for clarity.

• Official text (SD HB1144)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26480
• LegiScan — HB1144https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1144/2026

School districts could not collect extra taxes, so homeowners would pay less but schools might get less money.

Citizens could see lower property taxes, but schools may have to cut programs or rely on state funds, so families could feel the impact on education.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — no new oversight. Bill does not add oversight for school spending.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — neutral on rights. Bill does not change legal rights of taxpayers or districts.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — cost shift to schools. Eliminates local tax revenue, shifting funding burden to state or districts.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — standard process. Bill follows normal committee referral and amendment steps.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — reduces local funding. Reduces local school funding, potentially increasing reliance on state funds.

• Official text (SD HB1172)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26397
• LegiScan — HB1172https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1172/2026

This bill would stop any activities that change the weather and punish those who try.

While it sounds good to protect nature, this bill could limit research and solutions for climate change. It is important to think about how it might affect our future.

Nobody / Symbolic

• Accountability (neutral) — The bill aims to hold people accountable for climate modification.. It provides penalties for violations.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — The bill protects natural weather patterns.. It aims to prevent harmful weather modification.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — The bill does not shift costs directly.. It focuses on prohibiting activities.

• Official text (SD HB1181)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26489
• LegiScan — HB1181https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1181/2026

This bill would let the state check if companies building public projects have insurance for their workers, so injured workers get help.

This bill would help make sure that workers on state projects are safe and covered if they get hurt. If companies do not have workers' insurance, injured workers might not get paid or have their doctor bills covered. This bill would give the state power to check on this, which is good for workers and keeps everyone honest. Some might say it adds more rules for businesses, but it protects people who work hard.

Workers

• Accountability (helps) — Increases oversight. The bill would let state agencies verify and monitor workers' compensation insurance, making contractors more accountable.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects workers. Ensuring contractors have insurance protects workers' right to get help if they are hurt on the job.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Ensures proper cost bearer. This bill would make sure contractors, not injured workers or taxpayers, pay for worker injuries through insurance.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No direct impact. The bill does not directly change how transparent the government process is.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No specific funding mentioned. The bill does not mention new funding or how money would be shifted.

Pushing for it: Workers, taxpayers (indirectly)
Bearing the cost: Contractors who might avoid insurance costs

• Official text (SD SB86)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26905
• LegiScan — SB86https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/SB86/2026

This bill would make sure property owners know before a special tax district is made, so they can understand how it might affect their taxes.

This bill would help regular people by making sure they get a warning before a "tax increment financing district" is set up. These districts can change how your property taxes are used, often to help new building projects. Right now, you might not know about it until it's too late. This bill would give you a chance to learn and speak up about these changes before they happen. It's about giving people more say over what happens with their property and their money.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases government transparency. Requires government to inform property owners before creating a special tax district.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects property owners' right to know. Ensures property owners are aware of potential changes to their property's tax situation.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No direct cost shift. The bill focuses on notification, not on who pays for the district itself.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Significantly boosts public awareness. Directly adds a notification step to the process of establishing a tax increment financing district.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding changes. The bill does not allocate or reallocate funds, only requires notification.

Pushing for it: Property owners (through increased awareness)
Bearing the cost: Government entities (slight administrative cost for notification)

• Official text (SD HB1075)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26437
• LegiScan — HB1075https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1075/2026

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.

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.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Stops unfair penalties. The bill prevents companies from punishing people with extra fees.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects doctor choice. Patients can see out-of-network doctors without facing extra administrative fines.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Saves money for patients. It stops companies from passing junk fees onto patients or their doctors.

• Official text (SD SB233)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/27247
• LegiScan — SB233https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/SB233/2026

The state would force IVF clinics to send data on treatments and could fine them if they don’t.

People who use fertility services could get safer care because the state can see what clinics do, but the rule may add paperwork and cost for clinics, which could raise prices.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — positive. Penalties encourage clinics to report data.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — negative. Collecting personal health data may infringe patient privacy.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — negative. Clinics may bear compliance costs, possibly passed to patients.
• Process Transparency (helps) — positive. Data system makes clinic practices more visible to regulators.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — neutral. Bill does not specify funding sources.

• Official text (SD HB1182)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26653
• LegiScan — HB1182https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1182/2026

This bill would let people buy distilled spirits shipped directly to their homes, making it easier to get their favorite drinks.

If this bill passes, people could enjoy more choices for buying spirits. It's a good time to support it so everyone can benefit.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — No significant accountability measures included.. The bill does not address accountability for shipping companies.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Enhances consumer rights to purchase spirits.. Consumers gain the right to order spirits directly.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs are not shifted to consumers.. No new fees or taxes mentioned in the bill.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No transparency measures included.. The process for penalties is not clearly defined.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding implications noted.. The bill does not mention funding sources.

• Official text (SD SB186)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/27177
• LegiScan — SB186https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/SB186/2026

This bill would provide money for schools and state services, which helps everyone in the community.

If this bill passes, it could mean better schools and services for people. Now is the time to support it.

Everyday People

• Funding Tilt (helps) — Supports funding for essential services.. This bill appropriates money for important state functions.

Pushing for it: state departments and common schools
Bearing the cost: Unknown

• Official text (SD HB1139)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/27019
• LegiScan — HB1139https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1139/2026

This bill would make it easier to sue people who give alcohol to very drunk people.

If this bill passes, it could help keep people safe by making sure that those who serve alcohol to very drunk guests are held accountable. Now is the time to speak up about this.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases accountability for serving alcohol.. This bill makes it possible to sue those who serve alcohol irresponsibly.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — Neutral effect on rights.. The bill does not remove rights but adds liability.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Costs may shift to servers.. Servers may face lawsuits and costs if they serve intoxicated guests.

• Official text (SD HB1236)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/27225
• LegiScan — HB1236https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1236/2026

The bill would cancel a credit that lowers child support for parents who share parenting, making payments higher for the non‑custodial parent.

Families who split time with their kids could see larger support bills, which may help the parent who lives with the child but could hurt the other parent who now owes more.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — no change in oversight. The bill does not add new accountability measures.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — removes shared parenting credit. Eliminates a right that lowered child support for shared parenting arrangements.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — increases payments for non‑custodial parent. Shifts more financial burden onto the parent who does not have primary custody.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — standard legislative process. Bill is in early stages with a committee hearing scheduled.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no new funding. The bill does not create new spending or revenue sources beyond existing child support.

• Official text (SD SB163)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26303
• LegiScan — SB163https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/SB163/2026

This bill would set rules for using AI in health care, helping ensure fair treatment for patients.

If this bill passes, it could protect patients from unfair decisions made by machines. It's important to speak up now while it is still being discussed.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — This bill could increase accountability for health carriers.. By setting rules for AI, it may help ensure fair treatment.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — It may protect patients' rights in health care decisions.. The bill could ensure that AI does not unfairly deny care.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — The bill does not specify how transparency will be improved.. More details are needed on how AI decisions will be made clear.

• Official text (SD SB169)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26550
• LegiScan — SB169https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/SB169/2026

This bill would stop companies from hiding agreements about data centers, helping people know what happens with their data.

If this bill passes, it could help protect your privacy by making sure companies are open about their data practices. Now is the time to speak up for your rights.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases transparency. Makes companies accountable for their agreements.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects consumer rights. Helps individuals understand data usage.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Limited information on process. More details needed on how agreements are enforced.

• Official text (SD HB1246)https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/27243
• LegiScan — HB1246https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1246/2026