South Dakota legislation · 101st Legislature (2026)
South Dakota SB81: clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal.
Status: Signed into law, March 9, 2026
What the bill says
An Act ENTITLED An Act to clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal.
From the enrolled text, March 1, 2026:
An Act ENTITLED An Act to clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota: Section 1. That § 40-1-38 be AMENDED: 40-1-38. No person may maliciously beat, injure, attempt to injure, harass, intimidate, entice, distract, or otherwise interfere with any service animal accompanying a person with a disability. A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this section, "service animal" means a dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, as set forth in 28 C.F.R. § 36.104 (January 1, 2026), provided the work or tasks performed by the dog are directly related to the individual's disability. The crime deterrent effects of a dog's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks. An Act to clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal. I certify that the attached Act originated in the:Senateas Bill No.81Secretary of the SenatePresident of the SenateAttest:Secretary of the SenateSpeaker of the HouseAttest:Chief Clerk of the HouseSenateBill No.[ADDED: 81]File No. ____Chapter No. ______ Received at this Executive Officethis _____ day of _____________,2026 at ____________M.Byfor the GovernorThe attached Act is herebyapproved this ________ day of______________, A.D., 2026GovernorSTATE …
Sponsors
- Timothy Goodwin (R, HD-030) · primary sponsor
- Taffy Howard (R, 34) · primary sponsor
- Bobbi Andera (R, HD-010)
- Heather Baxter (R, HD-034)
- John Carley (R, SD-029)
- Tamara Grove (R, SD-026)
- Phil Jensen (R, 33)
- Logan Manhart (R, HD-001)
- Scott Moore (R, HD-023)
- Carl Perry (R, 03)
- Tom Pischke (R, 25)
- Rebecca Reimer (R, HD-026B)
Latest actions
- : Signed by the Governor
- : Delivered to the Governor
- : Signed by the Speaker
- : Signed by the President
- : Do Pass
- : Certified uncontested, placed on consent
- : Do Pass
- : Scheduled for hearing
- : Referred to Judiciary
- : First Reading House
Votes
- Do Pass (February 26, 2026): 66 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 25, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 28, 2026): 34 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 27, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Penalty, Animals and Livestock
Common questions
- What is SB81?
- SB81 is a bill in the South Dakota Legislature (101st Legislature (2026)): clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal.
- What does SB81 do?
- In its own words: An Act ENTITLED An Act to clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal.
- What is the status of SB81?
- Signed into law as of March 9, 2026. Latest action: Signed by the Governor (March 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB81?
- Timothy Goodwin (R, HD-030), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB81?
- On the South Dakota Legislature website: https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/26288
Source: official South Dakota record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.