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Read. Follow. Verify.South Dakota requires fingerprinting and criminal background checks for multistate social worker licenses
Last action · February 17, 2026: Signed by the Governor
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What This Bill Does
South Dakota now requires social workers applying for a to submit fingerprints and undergo state and federal criminal background checks. The Board of Social Work Examiners must receive and review the background check results before deciding whether to issue the multistate license.
Applicants for multistate social work practice must pay background check fees and submit fingerprints to state authorities, altering the licensing requirements established under the .
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
social workers
Applicants for a multistate social work license must submit fingerprints, sign a release of information, pay associated fees, and undergo state and federal background checks.
Board of Social Work Examiners
The board must prescribe the form and manner for fingerprint submission, review criminal history records before issuing multistate licenses, and restrict information dissemination to board employees.
Division of Criminal Investigation
The division must receive applicant fingerprints, conduct state background checks, coordinate federal background checks with the FBI, and deliver criminal history records to the board.
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 must undergo a criminal background check under this law?
Who is responsible for conducting the background check?
Can the board issue a multistate license before the background check is complete?
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
16 actions- Feb 17, 2026HouseEnrolledSigned by the Governor
- Feb 9, 2026HouseEnrolledDelivered to the Governor
- Feb 6, 2026SenateSigned by the President
- Feb 5, 2026HouseSigned by the Speaker
- Feb 4, 2026SenateFloorDo Pass
- Feb 3, 2026SenateRemove from Consent Calendar
Show 10 earlier actions
- Feb 2, 2026SenateCertified uncontested, placed on consent
- Feb 2, 2026SenateCommitteeDo Pass
- Feb 2, 2026SenateScheduled for hearing
- Jan 23, 2026SenateCommitteeReferred to
- Jan 22, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Senate
- Jan 21, 2026HouseFloorDo Pass
- Jan 20, 2026HouseCertified uncontested, placed on consent
- Jan 20, 2026HouseCommitteeDo Pass
- Jan 20, 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
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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