The bill amends South Dakota's livestock ownership inspection laws to implement mandatory statewide inspections, requiring that at least three of the five board members derive significant income from the livestock business and are brand owners. It expands the board's authority to inspect all livestock moving within and out of the state, ensuring proper ownership identification. New fees for brand registration, renewal, and ownership inspections are introduced, alongside a mandate for outreach and education activities to prepare counties for the transition to mandatory inspections by July 1, 2029. The bill also establishes stricter regulations for the movement of cattle branded in other states, necessitating permits and imposing penalties for violations of inspection laws.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that livestock must be inspected before leaving the state and outlines conditions for selling or transferring livestock without an inspection. It establishes that if a person transporting livestock out of state cannot prove ownership, the board may hold the livestock, making it a Class 1 misdemeanor to remove or sell the livestock before the hold is cleared. The bill also mandates that individuals slaughtering or processing livestock provide delivery information upon law enforcement request. Several sections related to the livestock ownership inspection area are repealed to simplify regulations, and the bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2029.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 02/03/2026: 40-18-2, 40-18-15, 40-18-16, 40-18-17, 40-19-10.1, 40-20-4, 40-20-4.1, 40-20-5, 40-20-18, 40-20-26, 40-20-26.1, 40-20-26.2, 40-20-29, 40-20-32, 40-20-37, 40-20-39, 40-21-10, 40-21-11, 40-21-12.1, 40-22-12, 40-20-1, 40-20-2, 40-20-3, 40-20-6, 40-20-7, 40-20-7.1, 40-20-10, 40-20-10.1, 40-20-12, 40-21-5