The bill amends Section 9-38-1 of South Dakota law regarding the approval process for municipalities wishing to construct or expand camping or tourist accommodation facilities. Under the new provisions, municipalities must obtain written approval from the owner of any existing private campground within fifteen miles before proceeding with construction or expansion. If the private campground has multiple owners, approval can be granted by one person authorized to act on behalf of all owners. Additionally, municipalities are allowed to expand existing municipal facilities without needing approval from private campground owners, provided they reduce the number of existing campsites and tent sites accordingly and do not increase the overall size of the facility.

The bill also clarifies that camping and tourist accommodation facilities established before July 1, 1970, are considered to have been established under the authority to create public parks, allowing municipalities to maintain and regulate these facilities. Furthermore, the requirements for obtaining approval from private campgrounds do not apply to municipalities leasing facilities from the state that were in existence prior to January 1, 2017. This legislation aims to streamline the process for municipalities while ensuring that existing private campgrounds have a say in new developments nearby.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/30/2025: 9-38-1
House Local Government Engrossed, 02/06/2025: 9-38-1
House Engrossed, 02/10/2025: 9-38-1