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Read. Follow. Verify.South Dakota Adopts Physician Assistant Licensure Compact to Enable Multistate Practice
Last action · March 9, 2026: Signed by the GovernorSponsors: Sydney Davis and 11 others
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What This Bill Does
South Dakota enacted House Bill 1146 to adopt the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, allowing physician assistants to practice across participating states through mutual recognition of licenses. The law establishes the PA Licensure Compact Commission, sets eligibility requirements for practicing under a , and outlines disciplinary procedures for participating states.
Enables qualified physician assistants licensed in South Dakota to practice in other compact states, and allows out-of-state PAs to practice in South Dakota without obtaining an additional full license, while establishing shared data systems for disciplinary tracking and background checks.
- Interstate licensure compacts are multi-state agreements designed to facilitate practice across state lines while maintaining regulatory standards and public protection. context
- House Bill 1146 was introduced during the 101st legislative session of the South Dakota Legislature and signed by the governor. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Physician Assistants
Physician assistants gain the ability to obtain compact privileges to practice in remote participating states subject to eligibility requirements and state laws.
State Licensing Boards
State licensing boards retain disciplinary authority over licenses and compact privileges, must participate in the data system, and must conduct criminal background checks.
Medical Patients
Patients receive services from PAs practicing via mutual recognition under the compact while maintaining state safety oversight.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact?
Where does the practice of medicine occur under this compact?
How does the compact affect military families?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
15 actions- Mar 9, 2026HouseEnrolledSigned by the Governor
- Mar 3, 2026HouseEnrolledDelivered to the Governor
- Mar 2, 2026SenateSigned by the President
- Feb 26, 2026HouseSigned by the Speaker
- Feb 25, 2026SenateCommitteeDo Pass Amended
- Feb 24, 2026SenateDeferred to another day
Show 9 earlier actions
- Feb 23, 2026SenateCertified uncontested, placed on consent
- Feb 23, 2026SenateCommitteeDo Pass
- Feb 23, 2026SenateScheduled for hearing
- Feb 18, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst read in Senate and referred to
- Feb 17, 2026HouseCommitteeDo Pass Amended
- Feb 12, 2026HouseDeferred to another day
- Feb 10, 2026HouseCommitteeDo Pass Amended
- Feb 10, 2026HouseMotion to amend
- Jan 27, 2026HouseIntroducedFirst read in House and referred to
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
Do Pass Amended
Total
70
- Yes
- 56
- No
- 10
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 4
How they voted (1)
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 7 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Adoption of Interstate Compact for PA Practice
South Dakota joined the multi-state movement to streamline physician assistant licensing across state lines through mutual recognition.
Connected Entities
Sources
sdlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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