South Dakota
Summit Carbon would need written consent to perform land surveys under new SD bill
A bill changing one of South Dakota’s property access laws could shift power toward landowners affected by Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed multi-state pipeline network.Rep. Scott Moore and Rep. Karla Lems introduced House Bill 1079 on Thursday. The bill, if passed, would mandate that those proposed pipeline and similar projects would also need to obtain written consent from property owners for surveyors to enter their lands.
It’s one of the first bills introduced this session that was created in response to Summit Carbon Solutions’ controversial carbon dioxide sequestration project in South Dakota.
Currently, persons or organizations with eminent domain authority are able to access private property to conduct land surveys or examinations with or without permission if certain criteria are met.
This includes:
- having an active siting application with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission;
- providing 30-day written notice, including the filing and expected dates of entry, to the owner and any tenant in possession of the private property;
- and making a payment to the property owner, or provide sufficient security for the payment, for any actual damage done to the property by the entry.
But, under the proposed amendment, energy groups would also need to obtain written consent from landowners permitting access to their property at the scheduled date and time.
If all four criteria are not met, the PUC would have to approve the energy project’s permit application for surveys to take place.
This bill would directly affect companies like Summit Carbon, an Iowa company proposing to build a 2,000-mile, $5.5 billion pipeline through South Dakota and four other states. More than 400 miles of the pipeline would run through eastern and northeastern South Dakota if the project is completed.
Pipeline and similar companies use the results from surveys and examinations to determine whether the lands along their transmission project’s route can safely and adequately host new infrastructure.
HB 1079 was spurred by lawsuits filed by landowners in Brown, Edmunds, McPherson and Spink counties in 2022. The landowners sued Summit Carbon to prevent the Iowa company from accessing their property to conduct surveys to route their pipeline.
However, a South Dakota judge ruled in Summit Carbon’s favor in April and granted the company the right to access the property owners’ lands without permission. The company later followed through on those land surveys, sparking criticism from property rights advocates, affected landowners and some legislators.
More: Senator Mike Rounds: Summit Carbon gave itself a ‘black eye’ after controversial land surveys
Landowners have since appealed the decision to the South Dakota Supreme Court. It remains to be decided whether the judicial tribunal will pick up the case, as Summit Carbon initiated a motion in December to have the case dismissed.
Bruce Rastetter, CEO of Summit Ag Group, Summit Carbon’s parent company, told Bloomberg in October the project would be delayed until early 2026. This news came a little more than a month after the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission unanimously denied the company’s permit application for their Midwest Carbon Express pipeline.
Lems, Moore and Rep. Jon Hansen also teased two other pieces of pipeline-related legislation Monday, ahead of the 99th South Dakota Legislative Session that started Tuesday.
One of those is a bill which would prevent “condemnation of property owners before a permit is granted by the PUC.”
Condemnation actions are among the “sting[s] of eminent domain abuse,” as Lems described Monday, that have threatened South Dakota property owners.
In April, Summit Carbon filed more than 80 condemnation lawsuits against property owners who refused to sign easement agreements to acquire their land through eminent domain, as the Argus Leader first reported. Another 80 were brought at a later date, but the company later vowed to dismiss all 160 proceedings against the landowners.
More: South Dakota legislators aiming to find ‘compromise’ in CO2 pipeline bills
Based on previous Argus Leader reporting, lawmakers are anticipating the introduction of similar bills with likely lighter restrictions on carbon dioxide sequestration and other projects than those drafted by Moore and Lems. However, they have yet to be introduced this session.
House Bill 1079 has yet to be heard before the state House of Representatives.
Summit Carbon Solutions declined to comment for this article.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 9, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 9 drawing
15-41-46-47-56, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from May 9 drawing
08-12-13-27-42, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 04
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Dakota Cash numbers from May 9 drawing
01-02-04-08-18
Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 9 drawing
08-11-17-29-49, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A Rapid City church is hosting a free community event Thursday to raise awareness about human trafficking, with organizers saying the danger may be closer than people think.
The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League at Bethlehem Lutheran Church is opening the presentation to the entire community because organizers say awareness alone can save a life.
“If we can get 20 people to understand what to look for — if we can get 20 people to understand that this organization exists — then we can start shining light into every corner, and suddenly it’ll be a better world,” said Alexandra Loverink, co-president of LWML Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Event details
The free presentation is Thursday, May 14 at 6 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Rushmore Street. The speaker is Reverend Tess Franzen, founder of Freedom’s Journey, a Rapid City-based ministry that has assisted hundreds of trafficking survivors over more than a decade.
Franzen said the problem in South Dakota is far more widespread than most people realize.
“We see mostly sex trafficking, but much of what we see is — some people might call it homegrown or familial,” Franzen said. “We see trafficking here where young people are being trafficked out, their family members are selling access to them when they’re children. And in many cases, they don’t really even realize there’s anything wrong with it.”
Organizer Cari Garwood-Beard said Franzen’s presentation changed how she sees her own neighborhood, and she wants others to have that same wake-up call.
“She told a story about her neighbor one time — just a good old guy — and found out that he was a trafficker. Her neighbor, who she thought was above boards,” Garwood-Beard said. “And it really hit home. My next-door neighbor could be.”
A freewill offering will be collected for Freedom’s Journey at Thursday’s event. Bethlehem Lutheran Church is at 1630 Rushmore Street.
Resources
If you suspect trafficking, dial 9-1-1 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
For more information about Freedom’s Journey, visit their website or call 805.380.8009.
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Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing
37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing
14-16-21-43-51, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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