The bill amends South Dakota's existing law regarding the protection of service animals by clarifying the definition and scope of prohibited actions against these animals. Specifically, it states that no person may maliciously beat, injure, attempt to injure, harass, intimidate, entice, distract, or otherwise interfere with any service animal accompanying a person with a disability. Violating this provision is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Additionally, the bill provides a clear definition of "service animal," specifying that it refers to a dog trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities, as outlined in federal regulations. It emphasizes that the tasks performed must be directly related to the individual's disability, and it explicitly states that the mere presence of a dog for crime deterrence or emotional support does not qualify as a service task. This clarification aims to strengthen the legal protections for service animals and their handlers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/13/2026: 40-1-38
Enrolled, 03/01/2026: 40-1-38