South Dakota currently has over 340 active Articles and 2,000 Chapters of Administrative Rules to assist the state’s agencies, boards and commissions in the regulation of the areas they serve. While tracking them all may seem challenging, the South Dakota Legislative Research Council (LRC) offers a variety of easy ways for the public, legislators and interested parties to stay informed.
All proposed Administrative Rules are first discussed and deliberated on by the Interim Rules Review Committee.
On average, the Committee reviews 55 rules packets annually over the course of 7 to 8 meetings. Current committee members are Representative Jean Hunhoff (R-Yankton), Chair; Senator Alan Solano (R-Rapid City), Vice Chair; Senators Craig Kennedy (D-Yankton) and Lance Russell (R-Hot Springs); and Representatives Julie Bartling (D-Gregory) and Steven Haugaard (R-Sioux Falls).
All Committee agendas, minutes, and audio are posted on the LRC website on the Rules Review Committee page. Proposed rules can be viewed on the Open SD website at https://rules.sd.gov/default.aspx or on the website of the entity proposing them. Adopted rules are listed on the LRC’s Rules page.
Administrative Rules have the force and effect of law; Committee Chair Representative Hunhoff says that is why people need to know where to find them.
“It’s important that we make this access more transparent to our colleagues and to our citizens. These are great sites to get a hold of these rules, and we want it to be simple for people to find them,” Hunhoff said.
Filings of proposed rules with the LRC and approved rules with the Secretary of State, and a schedule of public rules hearings are noted in the weekly South Dakota Register, an electronic publication issued by the LRC every Monday. To receive the Register by email, sign up at My LRC.
The last Interim Rules Review Committee meeting for the current interim is November 20, 2018.
