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Read. Follow. Verify.South Dakota updates court location rules for filing adoption petitions
Last action · March 4, 2026: Signed by the GovernorSponsors: John Hughes and 10 others
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What This Bill Does
South Dakota House Bill 1197 revises the rules for filing an adoption petition, allowing it to be filed in the circuit court of the county where the adopting parent resides, where the responsible agency is located, or where the child was born or resides.
The measure establishes the specific judicial districts where prospective parents and agencies may legally file adoption paperwork.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Adopting parents
Adopting parents are directly affected by the specific court location options available for filing an adoption petition.
Authorized adoption agencies
Agencies with care, custody, or control of a child are affected as their location serves as a valid venue for filing adoption proceedings.
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
Which counties are eligible for filing an adoption petition under this law?
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
13 actions- Mar 4, 2026HouseEnrolledSigned by the Governor
- Mar 3, 2026HouseEnrolledDelivered to the Governor
- Mar 2, 2026SenateSigned by the President
- Feb 26, 2026HouseSigned by the Speaker
- Feb 25, 2026SenateFloorDo Pass
- Feb 24, 2026SenateCertified uncontested, placed on consent
Show 7 earlier actions
- Feb 24, 2026SenateCommitteeDo Pass
- Feb 24, 2026SenateScheduled for hearing
- Feb 10, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst read in Senate and referred to
- Feb 9, 2026HouseFloorDo Pass
- Feb 6, 2026HouseCommitteeDo Pass
- Feb 6, 2026HouseScheduled for hearing
- Jan 29, 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
Total
70
- Yes
- 65
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 5
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
Connected Entities
Sources
sdlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy5Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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