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, if a municipality seeks to establish such facilities and there is an existing private campground within fifteen miles, it must obtain written approval from the owner of that campground. This requirement replaces the previous stipulation that allowed for construction or expansion only with the written consent of all owners if the campground had multiple owners. Additionally, if a municipality wants to add to an existing municipal facility, it can do so without needing approval from private campground owners, provided certain conditions are met, such as reducing the number of existing campsites or tent sites.

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 them. Furthermore, the new requirements for construction or expansion do not apply to municipalities that lease facilities from the state that were in existence prior to January 1, 2017. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the approval process while ensuring that existing private campgrounds have a say in new municipal 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