This bill amends various sections of South Dakota's municipal government laws, with a primary focus on the dissolution process for municipalities with populations under 250. Key changes include the requirement for petitioners to demonstrate ownership of more than half of the real property in both area and assessed valuation when filing for dissolution. The circuit court is responsible for issuing an order to show cause upon receiving a petition, with a 30-day window for objections. A referee will be appointed to evaluate the municipality's population and property ownership, ultimately leading to a judgment that can dissolve the municipality if deemed in the best interest of property owners.

Additionally, the bill revises the structure and responsibilities of municipal governing bodies, including the roles of the mayor, commissioners, and city manager. It establishes the position of mayor pro tempore, clarifies the process for appointing an acting mayor, and outlines quorum requirements for the board of commissioners. The bill mandates that all board meetings be open to the public and that votes be recorded, promoting transparency. It also addresses the employment and authority of city managers, stipulating that contracts must be authorized by the governing body. Several sections of current law are repealed to streamline the legal framework governing municipal operations, enhancing clarity and efficiency while ensuring accountability to the public.

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