Legislative Update
We are your voice!
The 2025 legislative session began on January 14, 2025.
Click HERE for list of Legislative Coffees. We are continuing to update this list as they are made known.
2024 session produced changes to our eviction process and Tenant At Will laws.
- Eviction - the Summons & Complaint (3 day) was removed from the legal process.
- Tenant At Will changes allow for the property owner to give a 15 day notice to vacate for tenants NOT on a lease.
- Summer Study on Real Estate Tax Methodology took place in 2024. We participated, however no big changes are coming out of this group.
2023 Legislative session:
- Infrastructure funds were at the forefront again. We fought along with others to successfully move the money forward.
- Summer study on Property Tax structure and tax burden. We were actively engaged with this committee.
2021 Legislative session activity:
Background Checks: SB141: provide for the automatic removal of certain marijuana convictions from a background check record.
- Boiler: HB1011: $10 increase in inspection
- Housing: SB92: require that certain proposed rules include an affordable housing impact statement
- Real Estate Commission: HB1002: revise certain provisions regarding fingerprint-based background checks. And HB1014: establish uniform complaint procedures.
The 2020 Session was a success.
We worked diligently to produce a bill to streamline the eviction process in South Dakota. HB1067 passed the House with only 3 nay votes, then onto the Senate where we had 5 nay votes. We did have an amendment on the Senate side, so went back to the House, where we had 1 nay vote. Governor Noem signed the bill into law, to be effective July 1, 2020.
HB1067 is a HUGE win for residential rental property owners and management companies in South Dakota. The changes will reduce expenses to properties and to the residents.
Other bills we were watching that could impact our industry:
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HB1123: Revise provisions regarding termination of a lease by a victim of alleged domestic abuse: Governor Noem signed.
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HB1246: Revise the attorney's fees allowed in a retaliation action against a lessor. Governor Noem signed
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SB176: Provide for the seizure and holding of real property as evidence. Governor Noem signed
In 2018, our legislation brought about new laws that pertained to Service/Companion/Emotional Support Animal Verification. Specifically it states that all verifications for Service/Companion animals shall come from a "medical provider that is within the State of South Dakota".
Want to be more involved, contact Denise at 605-336-7756.