South Dakota GFP Legislative Update

[Jarrod32]

The South Dakota Legislature has a number of bills under consideration this session that affect hunting and fishing. Go to the SD GFP home page, and in the “What’s New” tab hit the “Legislative Summary” link. I won’t go into detail on each provision here, but some of the bills/topics under consideration are:

HB-1014: Define trophy and non-trophy antelope, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and elk, and establish a civil penalty for the unlawful taking of trophy animals.

HB-1015: Repeal the imposition of the five dollar surcharge on mentored youth big game hunting licenses.

HB-1055: Revise certain provisions regarding the appointment of members of the Game, Fish and Parks Commission.

HB-1066: Provide for the issuance of landowner-sponsored big game hunting licenses.

HB-1067: Restrict the entry of conservation officers onto certain private land without permission.

HB-1093: Revise the open meeting requirement to permit the use of teleconferencing for rule-making and other purposes.

HB-1113: Specify certain animal species for animal damage control.

HB-1114: Broaden the policy review committee for animal damage control.

HB-1115: Provide annual audits of the state predatory animal control fund.

HB-1121: Require a permit and fee for public access on certain school and public lands and to establish and penalty.

HB-1139: Clarify the application of common law civil trespass on agriculture land and to provide for the recovery of liquidated damages against trespassers.

HB-1157: Provide for the public release of certain subscription and license lists by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

HB-1170: Authorize the issuance of certain lifetime hunting and fishing licenses.

HB-1176: Authorize certain licensed hunters who are quadriplegic to hunt using a designated hunter.

HB-1208: Provide for legislative representation on the Game, Fish and Parks Commission.

HB-1242: Require that certain land acquisitions by the State of South Dakota be conditioned upon subsequent legislative approval.

HCR 1002: Requesting federal natural resource agencies to refrain from designating wilderness or roadless areas in South Dakota without legislative approval.

These are just a few. The whole list can be found on the GFP HSOforum. These are primarily house bills, and most don’t appear to have a companion Senate bill at this point, though many do have Senatorial co-sponsors. Some (maybe many) of these will go nowhere. But anyone involved in hunting and fishing should stay informed, and keep in contact with your legislators.