The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.South Dakota prohibits health insurers from favoring opioid drugs over prescribed nonopioid alternatives
Last action · January 29, 2026: Deferred to the 41st legislative daySponsors: Brian Mulder and 6 others
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Proposed
Health insurance policies in South Dakota may not deny coverage for a prescribed nonopioid pain medication in favor of an opioid, nor impose stricter utilization controls or higher cost-sharing tiers on nonopioid drugs than on opioids.
Enrollees seeking pain treatment cannot be subjected to heavier administrative hurdles or higher copays for nonopioid prescriptions compared to opioid alternatives.
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.
health insurance enrollees
Enrollees cannot be denied coverage for prescribed nonopioid pain medications in favor of opioids, nor subjected to stricter utilization controls or higher cost-sharing tiers.
health insurers
Insurers are prohibited from denying nonopioid drugs over opioids, applying stricter utilization controls to nonopioids, or placing nonopioids on higher cost-sharing tiers than opioids.
licensed physicians and other authorized health care practitioners
Practitioners prescribe nonopioid drugs for pain treatment without insurers denying coverage in favor of opioids or applying stricter utilization controls.
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
Can a health insurer in South Dakota require prior authorization for a nonopioid pain medication?
How does this bill affect cost-sharing tiers for prescription drugs?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
3 actions- Jan 29, 2026HouseDeferred to the 41st legislative day
- Jan 29, 2026HouseScheduled for hearing
- Jan 20, 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.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
sdlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools