The Chamber Advocate
2026 South Dakota Legislative Session – Week Six
Week six was similar to week five, with committee meetings again held both before and after legislative session in an attempt to address the record number of bills introduced. We continue to see many bills move out of their respective committees and advance to a vote of the full chamber in both the House and Senate. This will make for a long few days early next week, as crossover day will occur Tuesday, Feb. 24, and both bodies will need to hear their remaining bills or they will be deemed lost.
Bill Movement This Week
SB 76, an act to support the construction and expansion of the Sioux Falls and Rapid City airports, passed out of the Senate Commerce and Energy Committee on Thursday with no opposition testimony and a unanimous vote in support. This is exciting progress on an issue the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce has supported for many years. The bill now moves to the Senate floor and will be heard early next week.
Tuesday was deemed “data center day” in the Capitol, with morning and evening hearings on several bills related to data centers. Two pieces of legislation, SB 135 and SB 239, passed out of the Senate State Affairs Committee. SB 135 would provide protections for current residents and utility users if a data center were to locate in South Dakota, ensuring water and electricity usage and rates are not adversely affected. SB 239 would expand the state’s Reinvestment Payment Program to apply to any large project constructed in the state and allow for a sales tax rebate to builders on infrastructure purchased to operate in South Dakota. The legislature continues to look for compromise legislation that would protect residents and utility users while also allowing the state and local communities to benefit from large-scale data center projects.
Looking Ahead
With crossover day approaching Tuesday, we anticipate long days on the floors of both legislative chambers Monday and Tuesday. Special appropriations bills will also begin to receive more attention as the various caucuses reach consensus on their one-time spending priorities. Special appropriations bills will also start being addressed as the various caucuses reach consensus on their one-time spending priorities.
Stay Informed
Please continue to read Chamber Advocate and follow our Bill Tracker to see what legislation your Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce policy team is advocating for in Pierre.