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 individual authorized to act on behalf of the group. Additionally, municipalities are allowed to expand existing municipal facilities without needing approval from private campground owners, provided they adhere to specific conditions, such as reducing the number of existing campsites or tent sites for each new addition.

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 do not apply to municipalities leasing camping and tourist accommodation facilities from the state that were in existence prior to January 1, 2017. The amendments aim to streamline the approval process while ensuring that existing private campgrounds have a say in new municipal developments.

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