South Dakota Lawmakers Enter Day 23 of Legislative Session

Property taxes, data centers, and capital punishment among the day's most contentious issues.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 6:31am

South Dakota lawmakers are entering day 23 of the 101st Legislative Session, with a number of high-profile issues on the agenda. House committees are taking up bills dealing with an Article Five constitutional convention, ethics rules for economic development officials, app store age verification, and limits on nondisclosure agreements tied to data centers. The Senate is focused on property tax relief proposals, while data centers remain a major focus across both chambers. Lawmakers will also consider legislation on distracted driving laws, assisted reproductive technology data collection, and child custody.

Why it matters

As the legislative session progresses, the decisions made by South Dakota lawmakers on these key issues will have significant impacts on the state's residents, businesses, and overall economic and social landscape.

The details

House committees are taking up a range of bills, including measures related to an Article Five constitutional convention, ethics rules for economic development officials, app store age verification, and limits on nondisclosure agreements tied to data centers. In the Senate, property tax relief proposals are dominating the agenda, with plans to allow counties to use gross receipts taxes to lower owner-occupied property taxes, expand relief for seniors, replace property taxes with transaction taxes, and reset property taxes at a flat rate. Data centers also remain a major focus, with multiple hearings on moratoriums, utility costs, and purchasing requirements. During floor debate, lawmakers will consider major property tax legislation, changes to distracted driving laws, assisted reproductive technology data collection, and a custody bill favoring joint physical custody.

  • South Dakota lawmakers are entering day 23 of the 101st Legislative Session.

The players

Larry Rhoden

The Governor of South Dakota who requested one of the property tax relief measures.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The decisions made by South Dakota lawmakers during this legislative session will have far-reaching impacts on the state's residents, businesses, and overall economic and social landscape. The range of issues being addressed, from property taxes to data centers to criminal justice, highlights the breadth and importance of the work being done in Pierre.