The bill amends South Dakota's municipal government laws, focusing on the dissolution process for municipalities with populations under 250. It requires petitioners to prove ownership of more than half of the real property within the municipality, both in area and assessed valuation. The circuit court will evaluate the petition and any objections, appointing a referee to verify its validity before rendering a judgment based on the best interests of property owners and taxpayers. Additionally, the bill revises governance structures, clarifying the roles of the board of trustees and the mayor, and introduces a mayor pro tempore to ensure continuity during the mayor's temporary absence.

Further amendments address the governance framework, specifying that municipalities can be governed by various structures, including a mayor and common council or a board of commissioners. The bill outlines the appointment and responsibilities of a city manager, who will oversee municipal affairs and report to the governing body. It also establishes requirements for municipal contracts and emphasizes public participation in governance through petitions for changes in government structure. Key deletions include the repeal of certain outdated provisions, which aims to streamline municipal governance and enhance operational efficiency.

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