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Call to Action: HB 1122 – Fishing Guide License Bill

Home » 2026 Legislative Bills » Call to Action: HB 1122 – Fishing Guide License Bill

Posted on: January 24, 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

Rep. DeGroot’s fishing guide bill has been posted. The hearing date is not yet set but now is the time to contact your legislators and the House Ag and Natural Resources committee members. Below you will see the bill link and all the members of the HANR committee. Please CALL them and explain why we need this bill. E-mails are fine but often get ignored. Explain your reasons in detail. Impacts to resources, that nobody has any idea how many guides are even out there and that many come from out of state, profiting from public trust resources etc. Use your own words and be respectful please. Get your friends, affiliated members and like minded sportsmen involved to let our legislators know this is long overdue.

HB 1122 – provide for the licensure of certain fishing guides, and to provide a penalty therefor.

01/23/2026 First read in House and referred to House Agriculture and Natural Resources

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

Marty.Overweg@sdlegislature.gov

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

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