Feb. 17, 2026:
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed the following 10 bills into law:
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SB 50 updates the reference to the Internal Revenue Code to reflect current federal law for the administration of South Dakota Retirement System statutes;
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SB 51 revises certain requirements for contesting actions of the South Dakota Retirement System;
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SB 52 clarifies statutes governing the administration of disability benefits by the South Dakota Retirement System;
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SB 53 ensures uniformity in member identification provisions governing the South Dakota Retirement System;
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SB 65 revises certain required minimum distribution provisions of the South Dakota Retirement System;
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HB 1058 requires licensure for online pari-mutuel wagering pools for horse and dog races, and clarifies the application of tax therefor;
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HB 1060 removes the five percent calculation requirement from the county budgetary process;
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HB 1064 provides for the sale of producer-raised meat and meat food products directly to consumers pending legalization under federal law;
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HB 1076 revises restrictions on residence within a community safety zone and declares an emergency; and
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HB 1088 removes the requirement that counties remit to municipalities an amount equal to the road levy for calendar years 1984, 1985, and 1986.
Rhoden has signed 45 bills into law and vetoed one this legislative session.
Feb. 13, 2026:
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed 12 bills into law, including three bills introduced by Attorney General Marty Jackley to promote open government.
“Openness and responsiveness are key pillars of my Administration. South Dakotans deserve transparency so they can have confidence in their government,” said Rhoden. “These bills strengthen transparency, ensure timely public notices, and reinforce our commitment to openness for the people of South Dakota.”
The following three open government bills were signed at a signing ceremony with Jackley:
- SB 46 modifies the requirements for open meeting agendas and provides a penalty therefor;
- SB 47 revises the requirements for executive sessions and closed meetings; and
- SB 48 clarifies that an official open meeting agenda must be posted online at least seventy-two hours before the scheduled start of the meeting.
“Government transparency is at the heart of these bills,” said Jackley. “Thank you to Governor Rhoden, the media, the Open Government Task Force, and our Legislators for their unanimous support of these important bills.”
Rhoden also signed the following nine bills:
- SB 10 revises a provision related to the adoption of federal motor carrier regulations;
- SB 11 increases reinstatement fees and abstract driver record fees;
- SB 18 repeals income modifications for the bank franchise tax pertaining to bad debts;
- SB 19 revises certain references to the Internal Revenue Code;
- SB 23 includes certain types of vehicles in the unpaid repair bill titling process;
- HB 1002 revises the daily meal allowance for wildland fire employees and fire suppression forces in certain circumstances;
- HB 1011 modifies fees charged by the clerk of courts for certain copies of court records;
- HB 1028 establishes a criminal background check requirement for multistate licensure under the social work licensure compact; and
- HB 1029 revises provisions related to the practice of addiction counseling and prevention services.
Rhoden has signed 35 bills into law and vetoed one this legislative session.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signs open government bills while bill supporters watch.
Feb. 13, 2026.
Courtesy photo.
Feb. 12, 2026:
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed SB 12, a bill to provide for a refund of property taxes in previous years for qualifying veterans and surviving spouses.
He signed SB 12 at a private signing ceremony with the bill’s prime sponsor, Senator Ernie Otten, and South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Jeremiah Schneider.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signs Senate Bill 12 while bill supporters watch.
Feb. 12, 2026.
Courtesy photo.
Rhoden also signed HB 1042, which strengthens the South Dakota National Guard by authorizing the construction of a National Guard vehicle maintenance shop in Sturgis.
“Our guardsmen serve with excellence! They play a key role in keeping both our state and nation strong and safe,” said Rhoden. “By investing in this maintenance facility, we are ensuring the National Guard has the tools and equipment they need to respond in times of crisis and keep South Dakotans safe.”
HB 1042 was signed at a signing ceremony with several guardsmen.
Rhoden included this new vehicle maintenance shop as one of his budget priorities. In December, he visited the South Dakota National Guard in Sturgis to highlight the need for this new facility.
He also signed the following eight bills into law:
- SB 4 revises procedures for returning and withholding security deposits for residential premises;
- SB 8 permits a school district to administer epinephrine using a nasal spray;
- SB 9 revises provisions regarding notices to the one-call notification center;
- SB 22 clarifies when certification of values is transmitted to the county;
- SB 38 modifies the annual fee imposed on certain concentrated animal feeding operations;
- HB 1016 modifies provisions related to the controlled substances schedule and declares an emergency;
- HB 1054 repeals the creation and budgeting for the Digital Dakota Network; and
- HB 1055 updates the official code of laws.
Rhoden has signed 23 bills into law and vetoed one this legislative session.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signs House Bill 1042 while bill supporters watch.
Feb. 12, 2026.
Courtesy photo.
Feb. 11, 2026:
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed three bills that promote South Dakota’s great outdoors.
“South Dakota’s outdoor beauty is part of what makes our state so great. I am committed to making sure our kids and grandkids can enjoy our great outdoors to the fullest for generations to come,” said Rhoden. “By promoting fishing, strengthening preservation, and opening up space for new opportunities at our State Fair, we are protecting what makes South Dakota special.”
The following two bills were signed at a signing ceremony with the prime sponsors; Game, Fish and Parks Secretary Kevin Robling; and other stakeholders:
- HB 1047 makes an appropriation for construction costs at the Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery, which produces a variety of fish species for stocking across our state; and
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signs House Bill 1047 while bill supporters watch.
Feb. 11, 2026.
Courtesy photo. - HB 1052 transfers Hydro II to the Spearfish Canyon Foundation to strengthen preservation and public education.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signs House Bill 1052 while bill supporters watch.
Feb. 11, 2026.
Courtesy photo.
Rhoden also signed HB 1021, which authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources to continue making improvements to the South Dakota State Fairgrounds by removing buildings that have outlived their useful life.
Photo courtesy of news partner KOKK.
Photo courtesy of news partner KOKK.
Rhoden has signed 13 bills into law and vetoed one this legislative session.
Feb. 10, 2026:
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed SB 2, which protects the 2nd Amendment. SB 2 deregulates firearm suppressors at the state level by removing them from the definition of a “controlled weapon.”
“South Dakota is the most Second Amendment-friendly state in America, and this is yet another opportunity for us to pave the way and set an example for the rest of the nation,” said Rhoden. “By removing unnecessary state-level restrictions, we are standing up for freedom and protecting the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens.”
South Dakota is the first state in the nation to remove suppressors from the list of controlled weapons, sending a message of support for further deregulation to happen at the national level.
SB 2 was signed at a signing ceremony at Silencer Central with the bill’s prime sponsors, Senator Casey Crabtree and Representative Drew Peterson; Attorney General Marty Jackley; and other stakeholders in the Second Amendment advocacy and firearms manufacturing industries.
“I am proud to stand with President Trump and Governor Rhoden to support the Second Amendment,” said Crabtree. “Gun suppressors are hearing protection, not a weapon, and I’m glad that South Dakota will no longer be regulating them.”
“Firearms Suppressor’s primary purpose is to protect hearing and reduce noise, which makes firearm use safer for hunters, sportsmen, and neighboring landowners alike,” said Peterson. “Senate Bill 2 is a clean, common‑sense update. It reduces redundancy, respects federal oversight, and keeps our laws aligned with the actual purpose of suppressors as safety tools.”
“There already are protections in place at the federal level for silencers and removing an extra layer of government that serves no public safety reason makes common sense,” said Jackley. “Thank you to Governor Rhoden for his leadership on this legislation. I have and will always protect the rights of lawful gun owners.”
Rhoden has signed 10 bills into law and vetoed one this legislative session.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signs Senate Bill 2 while bill supporters watch.
Feb. 10, 2026.
Courtesy photo.
Feb. 9, 2026:
Governor Larry Rhoden signed two bills to strengthen South Dakota’s emergency medical systems Monday (Feb. 9, 2026).
“Keeping South Dakotans safe is my number one priority, and EMS teams are on the front lines those efforts,” said Rhoden. “These bills give EMS professionals the protections and support they need to respond quickly and effectively – and they give South Dakotans peace of mind knowing help is always within reach.”
The following two bills were signed into law:
- HB 1023 establishes requirements and liability protection for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses serving on ambulance crews; and
- HB 1024 modifies requirements for ambulance operators.
These bills were signed at a signing ceremony with the prime sponsor, members of the Emergency Medical Services Interim Committee, and other stakeholders.
Also on Monday, Rhoden charted a compromise on the issue of cell-cultured protein. In pursuit of this compromise, the Governor VETOED House Bill 1077 and advocated for an amended version of Senate Bill 124. Governor Rhoden outlined this path forward in a letter to the Legislature, which you can find here.
“While you won’t catch me eating these products, it is against our values to ban products just because we don’t like them. Fortunately, HB 1077 need not be the last word on this issue this Session,” wrote Rhoden before charting the compromise, bringing together ag groups, legislators, and stakeholders on both sides of the bill.
Rhoden offered support for an amended version of SB 124 that would:
- Impose a five-year temporary moratorium to permit further study within the existing regulatory framework and allow the pending litigation in other states to further unfold;
- Respect constitutional limits and reduce the risk of unnecessary litigation; and
- Preserve South Dakota’s long-standing commitment to our values.
“This approach respects constitutional limits, reduces the risk of unnecessary litigation, and preserves South Dakota’s long-standing commitment to free markets and agricultural leadership,” continued Rhoden. “Government is best when it is limited. We should respect the freedoms of our people, and we should not set precedent that violates our own values.”
The South Dakota Farm Bureau, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, and South Dakota Retailers all sent letters of support for the Governor’s VETO. You can find the South Dakota Farm Bureau’s statement here, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association’s statement here, and the South Dakota Retailers’ statement here. The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association also voiced support for the Governor’s compromise.
Rhoden has signed nine bills into law and VETOED one this legislative session.
Courtesy photo.
Feb. 6, 2026:
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed (Feb. 6, 2026) the following six bills into law:
- SB 5 requires the disclosure of whether a ballot question was proposed by initiative or by the Legislature;
- SB 56 requires that agencies promulgating permanent rules publish the rules and associated rulemaking forms on a state website;
- SB 57 clarifies when agency financial resource information must be filed in the permanent administrative rulemaking process;
- SB 64 revises and repeals provisions related to the athletic commission;
- SB 84 increases thresholds for the value of and eligibility for the partners in education scholarship; and
- HB 1033 updates the reference to the Internal Revenue Code to reflect current federal law for the administration of higher education savings plans.
Rhoden has signed seven bills into law this legislative session.
Jan. 29, 2026:
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed HB 1044, which appropriates funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program. This is the first bill Governor Rhoden has signed into law this legislative session.
“This is a big win for rural South Dakota! This may be the most significant investment in rural healthcare in South Dakota’s history, and it will strengthen our state for our kids and grandkids,” said Rhoden. “By recruiting healthcare professionals, modernizing rural facilities, and expanding access to care, we will ensure South Dakotans in every corner of the state can stay healthy and strong.”
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a five-year federal initiative supported by President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill that focuses on strengthening healthcare systems in rural communities.
In his State of the State Address, Rhoden said, “I would love it if this was the first bill that reaches my desk.”
Rhoden previously announced that the state of South Dakota secured $189.4 million in federal funding for Fiscal Year 2026 through this program to support state-led strategies that improve access, innovation, and long-term sustainability in rural health. For more information about South Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Project, visit the DOH website.
Rhoden signed HB 1044 at a private signing ceremony.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signs House Bill 1044, while bill supporters watch.
Jan. 29, 2026.
Courtesy photo.
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