The bill amends various sections of South Dakota's municipal government laws, primarily focusing on the dissolution process for municipalities with populations under 250. Key changes include a requirement for petitioners to demonstrate ownership of more than half of the real property within the municipality, both in area and assessed valuation. The bill establishes a circuit court review process for dissolution petitions, outlines procedures for filing objections, and appoints referees to assess population and property ownership. Additionally, it revises the governance structure, clarifying the roles of the board of trustees and the mayor, including the appointment of a mayor pro tempore during temporary absences.

Further amendments enhance the governance framework by detailing the roles and responsibilities of elected officials and city managers. The bill specifies that first and second class municipalities can be governed by various structures, including a mayor and common council or a board of commissioners, while third class municipalities must have a board of trustees. It also grants municipalities the authority to appropriate funds for expenses, lease property, and compensate commercial air carriers for air service. The bill repeals three sections of existing law to streamline governance, ensuring that the roles of elected officials and appointed managers are clearly defined and regulated.

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