The bill amends South Dakota law regarding the safety zone for hunting and trapping near occupied dwellings, churches, schoolhouses, and livestock. It changes the existing safety zone distance from six hundred sixty feet to one-quarter mile. The bill specifies that only the owner of the occupied property or livestock, or individuals with written permission from them, may discharge firearms or hunt within this newly defined safety zone. Additionally, it restricts trapping in the same area to adjoining landowners or those with permission from them.

Furthermore, the bill establishes penalties for violations, classifying them as a Class 2 misdemeanor. If a person is convicted of discharging a firearm within the one-quarter mile safety zone that has been clearly marked, the court is mandated to revoke the individual's hunting privileges for one year. This revocation can be served consecutively with any other hunting privilege revocations resulting from different violations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 02/05/2025: 41-9-1.1