This bill amends existing laws regarding the meeting requirements for county commissioners and planning and zoning commissions in South Dakota. It stipulates that the board of county commissioners must hold open meetings at least quarterly, specifically in January, April, July, and October, and allows for meetings to be held at suitable locations within the county. Importantly, any regular meeting cannot start before 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, and all meetings must be recorded and made available to the public on a free, accessible platform within twenty-four hours.

Additionally, the bill modifies the meeting frequency for planning commissions, mandating that they meet at least once every three months, with the possibility of more frequent meetings as necessary. Similar to the county commissioners, planning commission meetings are also required to start no earlier than 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and must be recorded for public access. These changes aim to enhance transparency and accessibility of local government meetings for the public.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/29/2026: 7-8-14, 11-2-3.1