Votes at a glance: key actions from the South Dakota House on Feb. 18, 2025

PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota House of Representatives completed a full floor agenda on Feb. 18, taking final action on numerous bills and resolutions. Below are final outcomes, vote tallies as recorded on the House floor, and brief context where debate occurred.

• House Bill 11‑57 (county drainage permit fee amendment): Passed, final vote ayes 64, nays 6. Sponsor said the bill raises the statutory maximum application fee from $100 to $500 and affects counties with drainage ordinances; a title amendment was adopted to reflect the change.

• House Bill 11‑52 (intergovernmental directives): Failed, ayes 32, nays 37, excused 1. (See separate article for extended debate.)

• House Bill 12‑22 (carrying a concealed pistol on school grounds in a vehicle if permit held): Passed, ayes 64, nays 5, excused 1. Sponsor said the measure allows a licensed concealed‑carry permit holder to keep a pistol in a vehicle on school grounds, modeled after Minnesota law; it does not allow carrying inside school buildings.

• House Bill 11‑93 (prohibiting Board of Regents from requiring on‑campus residency or meal plans): Failed, ayes 28, nays 42. Extended floor debate centered on student choice, bond obligations and retention benefits of on‑campus living.

• Senate Concurrent Resolution 604 (support expansion of transportation services for veterans seeking medical care): Adopted. Clerk reported ayes 70 (unanimous or near‑unanimous on recorded roll call indicated in transcript); the resolution urges the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to expand transportation availability and eligibility for reimbursement.

• House Bill 10‑42 (appropriation to complete historic exhibits at the Cultural Heritage Center): Passed (2/3 required), ayes 68, nays 2. Amendment made to make the appropriation effective in the current fiscal year; sponsors said the transfer would align reopening with the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

• House Bill 11‑80 (require disclosure of candidate party affiliation on school district candidate declaration): Failed, ayes 31, nays 39.

• House Joint Resolution 5006 (require intervening election before a similar initiated constitutional amendment or measure can be resubmitted to voters): Passed, ayes 62, nays 8. The resolution would place a pause before substantially similar ballot measures return to voters; the Supreme Court would resolve disputes over similarity per the measure’s text.

• House Bill 11‑94 (authorize counties to cooperate in operating a county director of equalization): Passed, ayes 57, nays 13. Sponsor said the bill implements a unanimous summer‑study recommendation to allow voluntary county cooperation to improve assessment accuracy and efficiency.

• House Bill 10‑24 (amend certain Secretary of State fees to fund business platform upgrades and maintenance): Reconsidered and then passed (2/3 required), ayes 63, nays 7. Sponsor reported the bill funds ongoing maintenance and a $2.2 million modernization initially paid from an IT modernization fund; nonprofit fees were not increased.

• House Bill 11‑65 (agricultural producer right to reject crop assessments — amended version): Reconsidered and passed, ayes 40, nays 30. The sponsor presented an amendment to streamline the refund process and address administrative concerns raised by cooperatives.

• Senate Bill 33 (appropriations for water and environmental purposes; emergency clause): Passed (2/3 required), ayes 62, nays 8. Bill contains dedicated funds and federal expenditure authority to address drinking water, wastewater, and emerging contaminants projects.

Consent calendar and multiple committee reports were adopted during the session; several bills were delivered to or signed by the governor after the prior calendar (recorded in communications and messages). For full debate excerpts, consult the House Journal and audio/video record of the Feb. 18 session.