This bill amends South Dakota law to require legislative approval for significant capital expenditures by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. Specifically, it modifies section 41-2-19 to stipulate that the Department cannot acquire, build, or significantly improve any building, facility, or infrastructure, nor enter into lease or lease-purchase agreements, if the cumulative capital expenditure exceeds $2.5 million, without first obtaining express approval from the Legislature. Additionally, if the Legislature is in recess or between sessions and time is of the essence, the Department may seek approval from a special committee instead.

The bill also establishes that any contract entered into in violation of these provisions is voidable by the attorney general, ensuring that the Department adheres to the new approval process. Furthermore, it clarifies that the requirement for legislative approval applies to all actions authorized under this title, preventing any attempts to circumvent the approval threshold by dividing projects into smaller expenditures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/30/2025: 41-2-19, 41-2-21, 41-2-22, 41-2-23, 41-2-24, 41-2-25, 41-2-31, 41-2-34.1, 41-2-34.2, 41-2-35, 41-4-1, 41-4-1.1, 41-4-2, 41-4-3, 41-4-10, 41-17-4, 41-17-14, 41-17-14.1, 41-17-15, 41-2-35.1
Senate Appropriations Engrossed, 02/20/2025: 41-2-19
Enrolled, 03/11/2025: 41-2-19