South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden speaks to members of the media at the Capitol in Pierre on Feb. 12, 2026. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)
By: John Hult
PIERRE, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) – Starting July 1, tribal police helping their state or local counterparts will be recognized as law enforcement officers under South Dakota law.
Gov. Larry Rhoden signed House Bill 1007 and other public safety and public welfare-related bills into law on Monday.
Currently, the definition of law enforcement doesn’t include tribal officers, who routinely assist their stateside counterparts on crime and crash scenes but lack jurisdiction outside tribal borders.
State-recognized law enforcement officers are afforded legal protections, among them assault laws that deem simple assaults against them as felony crimes.
HB 1007 will extend those protections to tribal officers as they support public safety operations anywhere in the state.
Rhoden also signed a bill Monday removing the addresses, email addresses and personal phone numbers of police and judges from the publicly available information listed on the state’s voter rolls. House Bill 1084 initially included a prohibition on the release of contact information for elected officials, but was amended based on concerns about constituents’ loss of access to their elected representatives.
On the public welfare side, Rhoden signed a bill into law that will require the use of a translator or interpreter when requested during administrative contested case hearings.
House Bill 1219 was sponsored by Sioux Falls Democratic Rep. Erik Muckey in response to concerns about the inability of some Lakota speakers to engage in administrative hearings on a proposed uranium mine in southwestern South Dakota.
State law already requires translation services when requested during circuit court proceedings. Administrative contested case hearings include cases heard by state-appointed boards or commissions, or by the state’s Public Utilities Commission.
As of Monday afternoon, Rhoden had signed 116 bills so far in 2026. He’s vetoed one bill, which would effectively ban the production or sale of lab-grown meat. The Legislature has not yet considered the veto. As he vetoed that bill, he signaled his support for a five-year moratorium on lab-grown meat. Senate Bill 124, which would do that, has passed both legislative chambers and awaits his consideration.
Rhoden also announced plans to hold a signing ceremony Tuesday in Pierre for Senate Bill 113, which will make it a felony crime for any person who purposely prevents any other person from practicing religion through violence or threats of violence.
This is the last week of the legislative session, other than a day reserved on March 30 if necessary to consider vetoes.
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