The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.South Dakota authorizes landowners to conduct prescribed burns on adjacent state land along the Missouri River
Last action · March 9, 2026: Signed by the Governor
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What This Bill Does
Adjacent landowners along the Missouri River may now conduct prescribed burns on state-owned land with written state consent to manage grasslands and control woody species, assuming full legal liability.
The measure shifts prescribed burn responsibilities and liability to private landowners conducting joint burns on state property, while protecting the state from legal damages and taking effect immediately as an emergency measure.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Adjacent Landowners
Landowners adjacent to state property along the Missouri River gain the legal ability to conduct prescribed burns on state land upon receiving written consent, while taking on full liability and fire suppression responsibilities.
State of South Dakota
The state grants conditional authorization for prescribed burns on its land while receiving full immunity from legal liability and damages arising from those burns.
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
Who is eligible to conduct a prescribed burn on state-owned land under this law?
Who is liable if something goes wrong during the prescribed burn on state land?
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 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, 2026SenateCommitteeDo Pass
Show 7 earlier actions
- Feb 24, 2026SenateScheduled for hearing
- Feb 10, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst read in Senate and referred to
- Feb 9, 2026HouseCommitteeDo Pass Amended
- Feb 5, 2026HouseCommitteeDo Pass Amended
- Feb 5, 2026HouseMotion to amend
- Feb 5, 2026HouseScheduled for hearing
- Jan 13, 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 →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.
Connected Entities
Sources
sdlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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