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2026 Legislative Update – Jan 16 2026

Home » 2026 Legislative Bills » 2026 Legislative Update – Jan 16 2026

Posted on: January 16, 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.

2026 Legislative Watch List

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

SDWF Will Monitor

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

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

SDWF Will Monitor

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

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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

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

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

SDWF Will Support

01/13/2026    First Reading House committee on appropriations

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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

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

01/15/2026    HB 1052 (transfer old hydro plant to Spearfish historical) passed out of House Ag and Nat Resources committee 12 to 0

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

SDWF Will Monitor

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

(HB 1079 last)

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

SDWF Will Support

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

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

penalty therefor.

SDWF Will Monitor

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

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

SDWF Will Monitor

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

(SB 97 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

Ismay, Travis (R);  Home: 605-456-2146  Capitol: 605-773-3851  Business: 605-490-6010

Travis.Ismay@sdlegislature.gov

Ladner, Trish (R); Home: 605-440-1834  Capitol: 605-773-3851

Trish.Ladner@sdlegislature.gov

Nolz, Kaley (R); Home: 605-999-4136  Capitol: 605-773-3851

Kaley.Nolz@sdlegislature.gov

Peterson, Drew (R);  Home: 605-247-3043  Capitol: 605-773-3851

Drew.Peterson@sdlegislature.gov

Rice, Kathy (R); Home: 605-389-4328  Capitol: 605-773-3851  Business: 605-342-3939

Kathy.Rice@sdlegislature.gov

Shubeck, John (R); Capitol: 605-773-3851  John.Shubeck@sdlegislature.gov

Van Diepen, Kevin (R); Capitol: 605-773-3851  Kevin.VanDiepen@sdlegislature.gov

Wittman, Kadyn (D) Capitol: 605-773-3851  Business: 605-215-1617

Kadyn.Wittman@sdlegislature.gov

Senate Ag and Natural Resources Committee:

Senate 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 senateagnaturalresources@sdlegislature.gov.

Chair:

Pischke, Tom  Home: 605-999-2948 Capitol: 605-773-3821  Tom.Pischke@sdlegislature.gov

Vice-Chair:

Jensen, Kevin Home: 605-366-6947  Capitol: 605-773-3821  Business: 605-366-6947

Kevin.Jensen@sdlegislature.gov

Davis, Sydney (R); Home: 605-770-7029   Capitol: 605-773-3821 Sydney.Davis@sdlegislature.gov

Duhamel, Helene (R); Home: 605-342-2078  Capitol: 605-773-3821 Helene.Duhamel@sdlegislature.gov

Marty, Sam (R) Home: 605-866-4477  Capitol: 605-773-3821  Sam.Marty@sdlegislature.gov

Voight, Curt (R); Home: 605-209-7073  Capitol: 605-773-3821  Curt.Voight@sdlegislature.gov

Wipf, Brandon (R) Capitol: 605-773-3821  Brandon.Wipf@sdlegislature.gov