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Read. Follow. Verify.South Dakota House Bill 1273 revises state mining statutes, permit fees, and reclamation rules
Last action · February 12, 2026: Deferred to the 41st legislative daySponsors: Nicole Uhre-Balk and 8 others
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What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 1273 updates South Dakota's mining laws by broadening the definition of minerals from specific precious metals to all economic minerals, raising application fees for large-scale mines to $50,000, and establishing temporary cessation and reclamation rules. The measure applies to mining operators and regulators across the state.
Changes financial costs and operational timelines for mining companies operating in South Dakota by altering permit application fees, defining clear procedures for pausing production, and updating annual reporting mandates for resource extraction.
- South Dakota regulates mineral exploration, mining operations, and land reclamation primarily through chapters 45-6B and 45-6C of the state codifications, overseen by the Board of Minerals and Environment. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
mining operators
Mining operators face revised permit application fees, new rules for temporary production cessations, and updated annual reporting requirements.
Board of Minerals and Environment
The board gains administrative authority to review temporary cessation requests, extensions, and rule promulgation under the revised statutes.
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 fee for a new large-scale mine permit under the bill?
What happens if a mining operator temporarily ceases production?
What is the maximum acreage allowed for a new large-scale surface mining operation permit?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Feb 12, 2026HouseDeferred to the 41st legislative day
- Feb 12, 2026HouseMotion to amend
- Feb 12, 2026HouseScheduled for hearing
- Feb 4, 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
Deferred to the 41st legislative day
Total
13
- Yes
- 9
- No
- 2
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 2
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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Broadening of Mineral Definitions
The bill updates foundational mining statutes by expanding applicability from narrow precious metal categories to all economic minerals.
Connected Entities
Sources
sdlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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