South Dakota

South Dakota attorney general unveils package of new laws for 2025 legislative session

Published

12 months ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota attorney general unveils package of new laws for 2025 legislative session

Joshua Haiar
| South Dakota Searchlight

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley hopes to prevent and catch future criminal conduct by state employees with new reporting requirements, protections for whistleblowers and a bigger role for the state auditor, according to a package of legislation he released Tuesday.

Jackley unveiled seven bills for lawmakers to consider during the annual legislative session that kicks off next Tuesday at the Capitol in Pierre.

Jackley’s bills focus on government accountability, human trafficking, prison contraband and probation.

Government accountability

Jackley’s government accountability measures come in response to several prosecutions he began last year against former state employees.

Those cases include allegations of former Department of Revenue employees creating fake vehicle titles to secure loans and avoid excise taxes, a former Department of Social Services employee allegedly embezzling $1.8 million, and a former Department of Public Safety employee allegedly filing fake food-service health inspection records for inspections that were never conducted.

“Protecting taxpayer dollars and restoring the public’s trust in government should be given high priority,” Jackley said Tuesday in a press release.

One of his proposed measures would require state employees in supervisory roles to report suspected unlawful conduct to the attorney general and state auditor. Failure to report suspected violations would be classified as a felony.

Additionally, the attorney general would be required to submit an annual report to lawmakers on the state budget committee outlining the number and outcomes of misconduct reports received.

Another bill seeks to shield state employees from retaliation for reporting misconduct or participating in audits and investigations. The bill would:

Prohibit state supervisors from discharging, discriminating against or taking any other retaliatory action against whistleblowers.
Establish a process allowing state employees to file complaints with the attorney general within two years after experiencing retaliation.
Authorize courts to reinstate employees and award back pay if they suffered illegal retaliation.

A third measure would authorize the state auditor to access all financial records of every state agency to conduct audits, investigate improper conduct and ensure internal controls are in place and maintained.

The fourth bill proposes state agencies conduct mandatory annual risk reviews, with results submitted to the Board of Internal Control. The reviews would assess agencies’ risk management practices and identify vulnerabilities.

Human trafficking

Another proposal would revise human trafficking laws and prohibit the obstruction of their enforcement.

“Human trafficking remains a national concern that we are not immune from, and this legislation strengthens victim protections and enhances our ability to hold offenders accountable,” Jackley said.

The bill would update the definitions of human trafficking in the first degree and second degree and would:

Establish mandatory minimum prison sentences of 15 years for a first offense and 20 years for a second or subsequent offense of human trafficking in the first degree.
Establish mandatory minimum prison sentences of five years for a first offense and 10 years for a second or subsequent offense of human trafficking in the second degree.
Create the new felony crime of obstructing the enforcement of human trafficking laws.

Prison contraband

Jackley’s legislative package also includes measures dealing with contraband in state correctional facilities. Officials with the state Department of Corrections reported finding contraband during a lockdown last year at the penitentiary in Sioux Falls.

Existing laws prohibit inmates from possessing drugs, unapproved prescription drugs, alcohol and weapons. Among other provisions, the proposed legislation would add unapproved cell phones and electronic communication devices to the list of banned items, clarify that employees and other people are prohibited from giving a similar list of items to inmates, and adjust the severity of various penalties for the different types of contraband.

Presumptive probation

Another proposal addresses South Dakota’s presumptive probation system, which mandates that some non-violent offenders receive probation instead of prison time. Jackley’s bill would make re-offenders who were already on probation or parole supervision ineligible for presumptive probation.

The bill also adds those convicted of threatening public officials or fleeing law enforcement to the list of ineligible offenders, as well as sex offenders who violate safety zones.

“Sentencing courts need more flexibility to impose appropriate sentences for certain violent offenders, and those choosing to reoffend while on probation or parole,” Jackley said.

South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Source link

Click to comment

South Dakota

Sheridan Lake rescue prompts winter ice safety warning

Published

7 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Sheridan Lake rescue prompts winter ice safety warning

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A harrowing scene at Sheridan Lake ended without serious injury Tuesday after a man, a woman and their dog fell through thin ice near the swimming beach, authorities said.

Keep pets on a leash and never attempt a risky rescue if someone falls through the ice, officials said. Call 911 immediately.

The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks agency advises that ice three inches or less is unsafe. Four inches is generally considered the minimum for walking, ice fishing or skating.

Lt. Casey Kenrick of the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said the incident is a reminder to take extra precautions this winter.

“Usually at this time the ice is significantly thick on the lakes around the area, well, some aren’t even frozen all the way at this point. The temperatures have been up and down so much that the ice isn’t solid even though it may look like it is, so make sure you know the ice depth that you’re getting onto,” Kenrick said.

Kenrick said those precautions could mean the difference between a close call and a tragedy.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.

Source link

South Dakota

A day in South Dakota history

Published

19 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – On Jan. 7, 1995, William Janklow began his third of four terms as governor. From statehood until 1972, governors served two-year terms. Voters then approved a constitutional amendment in 1972 allowing governors to serve two consecutive four-year terms.

Janklow served from 1979 to 1987 and again from 1995 to 2003. His 16 years are the longest stint of any governor in South Dakota history

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.

Source link

South Dakota

As South Dakota’s student population shrinks, more choose homeschools

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

As South Dakota’s student population shrinks, more choose homeschools

South Dakota’s K-12 population dropped slightly this year, along with public and private school enrollment, but enrollment in alternative instruction grew once again.

That’s according to headcount numbers taken Sept. 26, 2025, and released by the South Dakota Department of Education by Dec. 31.

All totaled, there are 163,053 K-12 students across the state, with 83% of those students attending public schools, 9% enrolled in nonpublic schools and 8% in alternative instruction.

There are 934 fewer K-12 students across the state than last year’s count of 163,987, a 0.5% decrease.

Public school enrollment decreased by 1,736 students statewide. Across 147 public school districts, there were 135,577 K-12 students this fall, down from 137,313 in last year’s fall count, a decrease of slightly more than 1%.

Private school enrollment decreased by 142 students statewide, totaling 15,043 students in nonpublic schools accredited by the SDDOE across the state, down from last year’s count of 15,185, a decrease of 1%.

Nonpublic school enrollment includes 9,462 students in private schools, 5,072 in tribal/BIE schools, 268 in special population schools, 175 in coop/multi-districts, 26 in community-based service providers, 21 in the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and 19 in alternative schools.

Alternative instruction enrollment increased by 944 students statewide, totaling 12,433 students in alternative instruction or homeschooling this fall, up from 11,489 in last year’s count, an increase of 8%.

In the Sioux Falls metro area, there are 52,325 K-12 students, with 85% attending public schools, 9% enrolled in nonpublic schools and 6% in alternative instruction.

Sioux Falls area public schools

The state’s largest public school district, the Sioux Falls School District, shrunk by 171 students this fall, down from last year’s count of 24,221 K-12 students to this year’s count of 24,050.

Sioux Falls’ neighboring public K-12 school districts saw the following enrollment changes this year:

Harrisburg, the state’s third-largest district, grew by 173 students, from 6,182 last year to 6,355 this year.
Brandon Valley, the state’s fourth-largest district, grew by 82 students, from 5,073 last year to 5,155 this year.
Tea Area grew by five students, from 2,509 last year to 2,514 this year.
West Central shrunk by 32 students, from 1,418 last year to 1,386 this year.
Lennox grew by 14 students, from 1,119 last year to 1,133 this year.
Tri-Valley grew by 41 students, from 952 last year to 993 this year.
Dell Rapids shrunk by 32 students, from 965 last year to 933 this year.
Canton shrunk by 23 students, from 888 last year to 865 this year.
Baltic grew by three students, from 539 last year to 542 this year.
Garretson shrunk by 10 students, from 468 last year to 458 this year.

All totaled, there are 44,384 K-12 students in Sioux Falls area public schools, a growth of 50 students or 0.1% from last fall’s count of 44,334.

Sioux Falls area private schools

Sioux Falls’ three largest private K-12 school systems saw the following enrollment changes this year:

Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools, the largest private school system in the state, shrunk by two students, from 2,224 last year to 2,222 this year.
Sioux Falls Christian School shrunk by nine students, from 1,447 last year to 1,438 this year.
Sioux Falls Lutheran School grew by 41 students, from 336 last year to 377 this year.

Other local nonpublic K-12 school enrollments include:

221 students at St. Mary’s School in Dell Rapids;
130 students at Children’s Home Society of South Dakota;
125 at East Dakota Educational Cooperative;
119 at LifeScape;
49 at McCrossan Boys Ranch;
45 at Good Shepherd Lutheran School,
43 at Westside Christian School,
23 at Bethel Lutheran School;
Four at Southeastern;
Three at Baan Dek Montessori;
One at 605 Prep;
One at DakotAbilities.

All totaled, there are 4,801 K-12 students in Sioux Falls area nonpublic schools, a growth of 24 students or 0.5% from last fall’s count of 4,777.

Sioux Falls area alternative instruction

Though it’s the second-largest public school district in the state, Rapid City Area Schools saw the largest number of students opt out of public school and into alternative instruction and homeschooling once again this year, with 1,839 students, followed by the largest district, Sioux Falls, with 1,793 students.

Sioux Falls-area schools had the following alternative instruction enrollment shifts this year:

1,793 in Sioux Falls, an increase of 131 from last year’s count of 1,662;
379 in Harrisburg, an increase of 78 from last year’s count of 301;
350 in Brandon Valley, an increase of 67 from last year’s count of 283;
111 in Tea, a decrease of four from last year’s count of 115;
105 in Lennox, an increase of two from last year’s count of 103;
97 in West Central, an increase of six from last year’s count of 91;
87 in Dell Rapids, an increase of 11 from last year’s count of 76;
79 in Canton, a decrease of two from last year’s count of 81;
73 in Tri-Valley, an increase of seven from last year’s count of 66;
42 in Garretson, an increase of 10 from last year’s count of 32;
24 in Baltic, a decrease of one from last year’s count of 25.

All totaled, there are 3,140 students in alternative instruction in the Sioux Falls metro area, an increase of 305 students or 10.7% from last year’s count of 2,835.

Source link