The bill amends South Dakota's aircraft registration laws, specifically modifying the language regarding registration fees and penalties. It stipulates that a person must pay an annual registration fee based on the aircraft's maximum permissible takeoff weight at the time of registration. Additionally, it establishes that failure to pay these fees constitutes a Class 2 misdemeanor. The bill also clarifies the tax obligations for leased aircraft, indicating that the original registration tax applies to scheduled lease payments for leases of thirty-six months or less, while for longer leases, the tax is assessed based on the aircraft's market value as stated in the aircraft bluebook.

Furthermore, the bill repeals certain provisions that previously allowed for reduced fees for older aircraft and established a minimum registration fee. Specifically, it removes the requirement that aircraft ten years or older could be registered for half the standard fee and eliminates the stipulation that no aircraft could be registered for an annual fee of less than ten dollars. These changes aim to streamline the registration process and ensure that fees are consistently applied across different types of aircraft and leasing arrangements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 02/05/2025: 50-11-12, 50-11-35, 50-11-14, 50-11-17