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2026 Legislative Update – Jan 22 2026

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Posted on: January 23, 2026

South Dakota Wildlife Federation Camo Coalition. The 2026 legislative session is now open. Here are the bills currently in the queue we are monitoring. The links should help you locate any bill and read it to understand the verbiage and intent. The SDWF Directors will be meeting via zoom weekly to discuss the legislative issues and any course of action. George Vandel and I will be in Pierre lobbying on your behalf. But, the best asset we have is the 220,000 South Dakota Sportsmen and the 3,000 members of SDWF sending in their thoughts.

When communicating with legislators, always be polite, professional and with your own words. Form letters and canned statements don’t have as much impact. Also, if you are communicating with your own representative, please let them know you are a constituent.

Link to 2026 Bills

Link to Legislators

Link to Committees

HB 1001 – provide for prescribed burning of state-owned land by a person owning adjoining land and to declare an emergency.

SDWF Will Monitor – Discussion on invasive cedar control but also removal of public land habitat.

01/13/2026 First read in House and referred to House Agriculture and Natural Resources

HB 1005 – provide a sales and use tax exemption for goods and services related to data center operations.

SDWF Will Monitor – Izaak Walton League is concerned. Discussion on power utilization cost increases and water use.

01/13/2026 First read in House and referred to House State Affairs

HB 1019 – remove knowledge and intent from certain actions involving pesticide laws.

SDWF Will Monitor – Discussion on direction and intent of bill

01/13/2026 First read in House and referred to House Agriculture and Natural Resources

01/20/2026 Scheduled for Hearing – House Agriculture and Natural Resources

HB 1037 – exempt active-duty members of the armed forces of the United States and veterans from paying a resident fishing license fee.

SDWF Will Oppose – Passes more fees onto all other fishermen and department loses much needed revenue. George, Jon Simpson and I all testified (all vets) in opposition due to incredible funding loss.

01/13/2026 First read in House and referred to House Military and Veterans Affairs

01/22/2026 Scheduled for hearing. House Military and Veterans Affairs

01/22/2026 Passed to 41^st Day vote 11-2

HB 1047 – make an appropriation for the construction costs at the Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery, and to declare an emergency.

SDWF Will Support – No funds requested from legislature. New upgrades in fisheries improves stocking rates/sizes immensely.

01/13/2026 First Reading House committee on appropriations

01/15/2026 Scheduled for hearing

01/15/2026 House Agriculture and Natural Resources Motion to amend, Passed Amendment 1052A

01/15/2026 House Agriculture and Natural Resources Do Pass Amended, Passed, YEAS 12, NAYS 0.

01/20/2026 House of Representatives Do Pass, Passed, YEAS 60, NAYS 9.

01/26/2026 Scheduled for hearing

HB 1052 – authorize the transfer of certain surplus real property by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks to the Spearfish Canyon Foundation for a public purpose.

SDWF Will Support – No loss of public access, GFP to transfer off books.

01/13/2026 First read in House and referred to House Agriculture and Natural Resources

01/15/2026 House Agriculture and Natural Resources Motion to amend, Passed Amendment 1052A

01/15/2026 House Agriculture and Natural Resources Do Pass Amended, Passed, YEAS 12, NAYS 0.

01/20/2026 House of Representatives Do Pass, Passed, YEAS 60, NAYS 9.

01/21/2026 First read in Senate and referred to Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources

HB 1071– establish a ten-year boat registration for owners of certain boats.

SDWF Will Monitor – impact unclear

01/15/2026 First read in House and referred to House Transportation

HB 1107 – modify restrictions on lands for certain public purposes.

SDWF Will Monitor – impact unclear

01/22/2026 First read in House and referred to House Judiciary

(HB 1114 last)

HCR 6003 – recognizing the importance of conservation and restoration practices in addressing water shortages and forest fire mitigation in the Black Hills, and commending the organizations engaged in this work.

01/15/2026 First Reading House H.J. 34

01/21/2026 Committee referral waived pursuant to JR 6D-1 H.J. 105

01/22/2026 House of Representatives Adopt Resolution, Passed, YEAS 68, NAYS 0.

SB 2 – provide that a firearm silencer is not a controlled weapon.

SDWF Will Support – Very common and saves hearing.

01/13/2026 First read in Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary

01/22/2026 – Scheduled for 9:00 AM Senate Judiciary Room 413

01/22/2026 Senate Judiciary Do Pass, Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0.

SB 16 – provide for the licensure of fishing and hunting guides, and to provide a

penalty therefor.

SDWF Will Monitor – We want some form of this but are waiting to support Rep. Degroots.

01/13/2026 First read in Senate and referred to Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources

01/20/2026 Withdrawn at the Request of the Prime Sponsor S.J. 66

SB 37 – make appropriations for water and environmental purposes and to declare an emergency.

SDWF Will Monitor – Impacts unclear

01/13/2026 First read in Senate and referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations

01/21/2026 Referred to Joint Committee on Appropriations, Passed S.J. 74

SB 103 – address the assumption of risk by an individual present at a shooting range.

SDWF Will Monitor – No discussion yet

01/21/2026 First read in Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary

(SB 108 last)

Link to Legislators – https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Listing/71

Link to Committees – https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Committees/71

House Agriculture and Natural Resources — 2026

A person may submit a request to appear from a remote site and give testimony before this committee. Submit requests, a digital handout, or written testimony at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting to houseagnaturalresources@sdlegislature.gov.

Chair:

Overweg, Marty Capitol: 605-773-3851 Business: 605-680-0304

Marty.Overweg@sdlegislature.gov

Vice-Chair:

Gosch, Spencer 605-773-3851 Spencer.Gosch@sdlegislature.gov

Representatives:

Auch, Julie (R); Home: 605-665-8657 Capitol: 605-773-3851 Business: 605-665-8657

Julie.Auch@sdlegislature.gov

Goodwin, Tim (R); Capitol: 605-773-3851 Business: 605-390-5324

Tim.Goodwin@sdlegislature.gov

Hunt, Jana (R); Home: 605-538-4411 Capitol: 605-773-3851

Jana.Hunt@sdlegislature.gov