New South Dakota legislation, Senate Bill 193, is on its way to the House after passing the Senate with overwhelming support. The bill aims to allow non-English speakers to use state-approved interpreters during their driving tests for a state license. However, the driver would be responsible for covering the cost of the interpreter.
South Dakota farmers, including Stephanie Peterson, owner of Fruit of the Coop in Brandon, are facing uncertainty due to the freezing of USDA grant funds. Peterson was set to move forward with significant business plans after being approved for a $36,000 grant, but last week, the USDA notified her that the funds were frozen due to ongoing government spending cuts.
The South Dakota House has successfully passed two key anti-human trafficking bills, Senate Bills 58 and 59, proposed by Attorney General Marty Jackley. Having already been approved by the Senate, the bills are now set to move to Governor Larry Rhoden’s desk for final approval and signature.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has expanded the state’s executive order to include a ban on two Chinese apps, DeepSeek and RedNote. This move restricts state devices and personal devices used by state employees during work hours from accessing these applications.
The South Dakota Senate Education Committee rejected a bill Tuesday that would have reduced state funding for the high school dual credit program, while advancing another education measure to appropriations. House Bill 1040, which proposed cutting the state’s share of dual credit tuition costs from two-thirds to 50 percent, failed on a 4-3 vote after committee members expressed concerns about passing costs to students and families.
A former South Dakota state employee accused of stealing nearly two million dollars is officially headed to trial. The case has drawn significant attention due to the large sum involved and the role Carroll held within the state agency.
Federal spending cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are having a significant impact on South Dakota, with several federal offices set to close across the state. The DOGE website now lists a dozen South Dakota locations, including the Small Business Administration (SBA) office in Sioux Falls, which has an annual lease of nearly $87,000.
A House bill aimed at boosting childcare employment is now headed to the Senate floor after being approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee with a 5-2 vote on Monday. House Bill 11-32 seeks to expand eligibility for the state’s Childcare Assistance Program by excluding both earned and unearned income from eligibility calculations for applicants employed by childcare service providers.
Governor Rhoden, alongside the South Dakota Department of Fish and Parks, is unveiling a new Habitat Conservation License Plate designed to support wildlife preservation. The plate features four vibrant habitat decals, including a deer, meadowlark, pasque flower, and pheasant.
Attorney General Marty Jackley is commending the House Judiciary Committee for approving two key anti-human trafficking bills. SB-58 focuses on revising provisions related to human trafficking, while SB-59 addresses the delivery and possession of unauthorized articles in state correctional facilities.
