Why It Matters: The South Dakota legislative session came to a close in early March. Legislators in the Mount Rushmore State introduced their fair share of legislation that would have had an impact on sportsmen and women. With the close of the session, legislators were successful in passing suppressor clarification legislation, a legislative priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF).
Highlights:
- The South Dakota Legislative Session came to an end on March 9, and Governor Rhoden has until April 30 to sign or veto any legislation still in consideration.
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation actively engaged on legislation that would have impacted sportsmen and women.
- South Dakota Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) passed both the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Rhoden.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation was active during South Dakota’s legislative session, engaging on legislation to clarify state statutes on suppressors, a CSF priority, which ultimately passed. CSF also supported legislation that would have allowed hunters to use drones to assist in the recovery of deer and elk (but not for hunting or scouting), and legislation that would have prohibited financial institutions from taking discriminatory actions against individuals or businesses participating in lawful economic activities, of primary importance to the firearms industry.
South Dakota Senate Bill 2 removed suppressors from South Dakota’s definition of a controlled weapon, an effort CSF has been working on in several states this year. SB 2 passed through both Chambers unanimously and was signed into law in under a month. With the bill being signed into law, it reconciles any potential issues with the state statute that may arise if suppressors are removed from the National Firearms Act. CSF Board Treasurer, Brandon Maddox, Founder and CEO of Silencer Central, championed the effort in his home state.
CSF also provided testimony in support of House Bill 1224 (HB 1224) and Senate Bill 201 (SB 201), though both bills failed to gain any momentum before the session ended. HB 1224 would have prohibited financial institutions from taking discriminatory actions against individuals or businesses participating in lawful economic activities, including businesses involved in the lawful commerce of firearms, components, and ammunition. SB 201 would have allowed hunters to use drones for recovery purposes of harvested or mortally wounded deer and elk.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation would like to thank the South Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and Governor Larry Rhoden for promoting positive legislation for sportsmen and women in the Mount Rushmore State.