The bill amends the existing law regarding aggravated assault in South Dakota by revising the language to clarify the definitions and actions that constitute aggravated assault. It specifies that "No person may" engage in certain behaviors that include causing or attempting to cause serious bodily injury under extreme indifference to human life, using a dangerous weapon to cause bodily injury, assaulting another with intent to commit bodily injury resulting in serious bodily injury, and attempting to induce fear of imminent serious bodily harm through physical menace with a deadly weapon or simulating a deadly weapon.

Additionally, the bill consolidates and updates the language to ensure clarity and consistency in the legal definitions. It removes outdated provisions and redefines the consequences of these actions, stating that a person who violates this section is guilty of aggravated assault, which is classified as a Class 3 felony. This revision aims to enhance the legal framework surrounding aggravated assault and ensure that the law is more comprehensible and enforceable.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/13/2026: 22-18-1.1