South Dakota Senate Passes SB 89 to Study Making EMS an Essential Service as Volunteer Shortages Grow

The South Dakota Senate voted 27-7 to advance SB 89, creating an EMS funding task force to study whether emergency medical services should be treated as an essential service and how to pay for it as many rural services rely on volunteers.

By Riley Harrington February 6, 2026 2:08 pm

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MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — A bill aimed at addressing South Dakota’s emergency medical services workforce and funding challenges has cleared the state Senate and is heading to the House.

Senate Bill 89 passed 27-7 and would create an Emergency Medical Services Funding Task Force to study how EMS should be funded and whether emergency medical services should be treated as an essential service.

Supporters say the measure is needed as many South Dakota ambulance services are volunteer-based and face rising costs and staffing shortages, especially in rural areas. A Senate committee amended the bill to focus on the task force and study, rather than immediately designating EMS as an essential service in state law.

Because EMS is not currently labeled an essential service under state law, lawmakers say there is no statewide requirement to ensure funding for those services. The task force would be charged with examining funding mechanisms and sustainability options for local ambulance providers.

SB 89 now moves to the South Dakota House for consideration.

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