South Dakota legislation · 101st Legislature (2026)
South Dakota SB36: authorize certain utilities to establish wildfire mitigation plans and associated liability limitations for wildfire damages.
Status: Signed into law, March 12, 2026
What the bill says
An Act ENTITLED An Act to authorize certain utilities to establish wildfire mitigation plans and associated liability limitations for wildfire damages.
From the enrolled text, March 5, 2026:
An Act ENTITLED An Act to authorize certain utilities to establish wildfire mitigation plans and associated liability limitations for wildfire damages. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota: Section 1. That a NEW SECTION be added to a NEW CHAPTER in title 49: Terms used in this chapter mean: (1) "Approval authority," in the case of an electric cooperative, its board of directors, or in the case of a municipal utility, its city council or city commission, as the case may be; (2) "Commission," the Public Utilities Commission of the State of South Dakota; (3) "Economic loss," monetary loss, including losses resulting from medical expenses, business interruption, loss of business, loss of use of property, and loss due to death and burial costs; (4) "Qualified utility," includes: (a) Any electric utility defined in subdivision 49-34A-1(7); and (b) Any person who is a wholesale generator of electricity and who operates electrical transmission; (5) "Wildfire," an unplanned, unwanted fire burning in this state that: (a) May impact, damage, or cause harm, including to natural resources, agricultural resources, homes, and property; or (b) Threatens lives and safety; and (6) "Wildfire mitigation plan," a plan submitted to and approved by the approval authority or published by the commission in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. Section 2. That …
Sponsors
- Timothy Goodwin (R, HD-030) · primary sponsor
- Steve Kolbeck (R, SD-002) · primary sponsor
- Heather Baxter (R, HD-034)
- Casey Crabtree (R, SD-008)
- Tim Czmowski (R, HD-006)
- Sydney Davis (R, 17)
- Roger Degroot (R, HD-007)
- Randy Deibert (R, SD-031)
- Steve Duffy (R, HD-032)
- Helene Duhamel (R, SD-032)
- Eric Emery (D, HD-026)
- Lana Greenfield (R, HD-022)
Latest actions
- : Signed by the Governor
- : Delivered to the Governor
- : Signed by the Speaker
- : Signed by the President
- : Concurred in amendments
- : Do Pass Amended
- : Do Pass Amended
- : Motion to amend
- : Scheduled for hearing
- : First read in House and referred to Commerce and Energy
Votes
- Concurred in amendments (March 4, 2026): 31 yea, 3 nay, passed
- Do Pass Amended (March 2, 2026): 63 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Do Pass Amended (February 25, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass Amended (January 29, 2026): 29 yea, 4 nay, passed
- Do Pass Amended (January 27, 2026): 6 yea, 3 nay, passed
Subjects: Liability, Fees, Public Utilities and Carriers, Firefighters, Promulgation of Rules, Reports
Common questions
- What is SB36?
- SB36 is a bill in the South Dakota Legislature (101st Legislature (2026)): authorize certain utilities to establish wildfire mitigation plans and associated liability limitations for wildfire damages.
- What does SB36 do?
- In its own words: An Act ENTITLED An Act to authorize certain utilities to establish wildfire mitigation plans and associated liability limitations for wildfire damages.
- What is the status of SB36?
- Signed into law as of March 12, 2026. Latest action: Signed by the Governor (March 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB36?
- Timothy Goodwin (R, HD-030), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB36?
- On the South Dakota Legislature website: https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/26857
Source: official South Dakota record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.