South Dakota legislation · 101st Legislature (2026)
South Dakota SC831: recognizing the historical significance of the buffalo and celebrating their return to tribal lands in this state.
Status: Introduced, March 4, 2026
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 11, 2026:
2026 Senate Commemoration 831 - SD Legislature recognizing the historical significance of the buffalo and celebrating their return to tribal lands in this state. South Dakota Legislature Senate Commemoration 831 Introduced by: Senators Foster, Duhamel, Perry, Rohl, and Zikmund and Representatives Pourier, Aylward, Emery, Moore, Muckey, and Reisch A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION recognizing the historical significance of the buffalo and celebrating their return to tribal lands in this state. WHEREAS, the buffalo, tatanka, has long been a symbol of strength, resilience, and unity for the Oceti Sakowin and other tribal nations of the Great Plains, providing food, shelter, and spiritual connection to the land for millennia; and WHEREAS, the near extinction of the buffalo in the nineteenth century was a tragedy that disrupted the way of life of Native communities; and WHEREAS, the approaching two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States offers a time to reflect on the nation's shared history and to focus on healing and renewal; and WHEREAS, the return of the buffalo to tribal lands in this state and across the Great Plains is led by tribal nations, conservation organizations, and community partners working to restore this iconic species to its rightful place on the land; and WHEREAS, the return of the buffalo to tribal lands also revitalizes cultural and spiritual traditions, strengthens food …
Sponsors
- Red Foster (D, SD-027) · primary sponsor
- Peri Pourier (R, HD-027) · primary sponsor
- Aaron Aylward (R, HD-006)
- Helene Duhamel (R, SD-032)
- Eric Emery (D, HD-026)
- Scott Moore (R, HD-023)
- Erik Muckey (D, HD-015)
- Carl Perry (R, 03)
- Tim Reisch (R, HD-008)
- Michael Rohl (R, SD-001)
- Larry Zikmund (R, 14)
Latest actions
- : Commemorations
Common questions
- What is SC831?
- SC831 is a bill in the South Dakota Legislature (101st Legislature (2026)): recognizing the historical significance of the buffalo and celebrating their return to tribal lands in this state.
- What is the status of SC831?
- Introduced as of March 4, 2026. Latest action: Commemorations (March 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored SC831?
- Red Foster (D, SD-027), with 10 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SC831?
- On the South Dakota Legislature website: https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/27355
Source: official South Dakota record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.