The bill amends various sections of South Dakota's municipal government laws, focusing on the dissolution process for municipalities with populations under 250. It clarifies that a petition for dissolution must demonstrate that petitioners own more than half of the real property in both area and assessed valuation. Upon receiving a petition, the circuit court is required to issue an order to show cause, with objections to be filed within thirty days. A referee will be appointed to assess the municipality's population and property ownership to determine if the dissolution should proceed. The bill also outlines procedures following a dissolution judgment, including the reversion of territory to local jurisdictions and the responsibilities of the municipal governing body during the winding-up process.

Additionally, the bill revises the roles and responsibilities of mayors, commissioners, and city managers within municipalities. It establishes the position of mayor pro tempore, who will assume the mayor's duties during temporary absences but lacks voting rights in that role. The bill clarifies the process for appointing an acting mayor in case of a vacancy and outlines quorum requirements for the board of commissioners. It also details the appointment and responsibilities of the city manager, including hiring and removal processes, and stipulates that contracts must be authorized by the governing body. Furthermore, the bill allows municipalities to appropriate funds for officer and employee expenses, lease property under specified conditions, and compensate commercial air carriers for air service, while repealing certain outdated provisions to streamline municipal operations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/30/2025: 9-6-1, 9-6-2, 9-6-3, 9-6-4, 9-6-5, 9-6-6, 9-6-7, 9-6-8, 9-6-9, 9-6-10, 9-6-11, 9-6-12, 9-7-1, 9-7-3, 9-7-5, 9-7-6, 9-7-7, 9-8-1.1, 9-8-2, 9-8-3, 9-8-4, 9-8-5, 9-8-7, 9-8-8, 9-8-10, 9-9-2, 9-9-3, 9-9-6, 9-9-8, 9-9-14, 9-9-14.1, 9-9-16, 9-9-18, 9-9-19, 9-9-20, 9-9-26, 9-9-27, 9-10-1, 9-10-3, 9-10-4, 9-10-5, 9-10-6, 9-10-7, 9-10-8, 9-10-9, 9-10-10, 9-10-11, 9-10-12, 9-10-13, 9-10-14, 9-10-15, 9-10-17, 9-10-18, 9-11-6, 9-11-9, 9-11-11, 9-12-1, 9-12-3, 9-12-5.1, 9-12-5.2, 9-12-10, 9-12-14.1, 9-9-13, 9-10-2, 9-12-9
Senate Local Government Engrossed, 02/12/2025: 9-6-1, 9-6-2, 9-6-3, 9-6-4, 9-6-5, 9-6-6, 9-6-7, 9-6-8, 9-6-9, 9-6-10, 9-6-11, 9-6-12, 9-7-1, 9-7-3, 9-7-5, 9-7-6, 9-7-7, 9-8-1.1, 9-8-2, 9-8-3, 9-8-4, 9-8-5, 9-8-7, 9-8-8, 9-8-10, 9-9-2, 9-9-3, 9-9-6, 9-9-8, 9-9-14, 9-9-14.1, 9-9-16, 9-9-19, 9-9-20, 9-9-26, 9-9-27, 9-10-1, 9-10-3, 9-10-4, 9-10-5, 9-10-6, 9-10-7, 9-10-8, 9-10-9, 9-10-10, 9-10-11, 9-10-12, 9-10-13, 9-10-14, 9-10-15, 9-10-17, 9-10-18, 9-11-6, 9-11-9, 9-11-11, 9-12-1, 9-12-3, 9-12-5.1, 9-12-5.2, 9-12-10, 9-12-14.1, 9-9-13, 9-10-2, 9-12-9
Enrolled, 03/03/2025: 9-6-1, 9-6-2, 9-6-3, 9-6-4, 9-6-5, 9-6-6, 9-6-7, 9-6-8, 9-6-9, 9-6-10, 9-6-11, 9-6-12, 9-7-1, 9-7-3, 9-7-5, 9-7-6, 9-7-7, 9-8-1.1, 9-8-2, 9-8-3, 9-8-4, 9-8-5, 9-8-7, 9-8-8, 9-8-10, 9-9-2, 9-9-3, 9-9-6, 9-9-8, 9-9-14, 9-9-14.1, 9-9-16, 9-9-19, 9-9-20, 9-9-26, 9-9-27, 9-10-1, 9-10-3, 9-10-4, 9-10-5, 9-10-6, 9-10-7, 9-10-8, 9-10-9, 9-10-10, 9-10-11, 9-10-12, 9-10-13, 9-10-14, 9-10-15, 9-10-17, 9-10-18, 9-11-6, 9-11-9, 9-11-11, 9-12-1, 9-12-3, 9-12-5.1, 9-12-5.2, 9-12-10, 9-12-14.1, 9-9-13, 9-10-2, 9-12-9