The bill amends several sections of South Dakota's laws regarding the notice and hearing procedures of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Key changes include reducing the notification period for landowners near proposed facility sites from thirty days to ten days, and requiring that the notice be sent via certified mail. Additionally, the notice must now include a color aerial map of the intended facility location and details about the public input meeting. The bill also clarifies the conditions under which an application may be denied or returned, including the introduction of a new provision allowing for denial due to noncompliance after a hearing.

Further amendments specify that in uncontested cases, the PUC must make a decision within twelve months of receiving an application, while in contested cases, an evidentiary hearing must commence within the same timeframe, followed by a decision within 120 days. The bill allows for deadline extensions upon request from any party or the commission itself. Lastly, it establishes that permits for transmission facilities can override local land use regulations if the commission finds them unreasonably restrictive based on technological or economic factors.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 02/05/2025: 49-41B-5.2, 49-41B-13, 49-41B-14, 49-41B-24, 49-41B-24.1, 49-41B-28