South DakotaSouth Dakota law lists records public bodies may keep closed
South Dakota law lists records that public bodies do not have to release under open records requirements, including some personal, safety, and internal agency information.
What it does
South Dakota law lists records that are not subject to its open records requirements, including some personal information, safety plans, and internal agency records.
The list also covers some employee, security, library, and historic-site records, with exceptions for certain information the law says must remain public or may be shared for research or protection.
Other listed records include personal identifying numbers, emergency plans, exam materials, and certain internal agency records; some final agency records and public employee contracts remain outside these exceptions.
The list also covers certain child and inmate records, plus some investment, bankruptcy, and hospital medical-service disputes.
Argument forKeeping sensitive safety plans and personal details from public release could help protect people and buildings from harm.
Argument againstPeople seeking information about public decisions could have a harder time getting some personal or internal agency records.
More detail
South Dakota law lists records that are not subject to its open records requirements. The list covers records held by public bodies, including records about students, medical care, investigations, and property purchases.
The law also lists records that public bodies may keep closed for other reasons. These records include certain employee information, security details, gaming records, library patron identities, and information about protected historic sites.
The law lists additional records that are not subject to open records requirements. These include donor and personal identifying details, emergency plans, exam materials, some court-confidential records, and internal agency records.
The law names additional records involving children, inmates, and certain public institutions as exempt from open records requirements. The list includes records about children committed to state custody, inmate discipline, certain investment or bankruptcy disputes, and medical services at county or municipal hospitals.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 12Signed by the Governor Larry Rhoden on 2026-03-12 H.J. 562Became Law
- Mar 5Delivered to the Governor on 2026-03-05 H.J. 520To Governor
- Mar 4Signed by the President S.J. 470Major
- Mar 3Signed by the Speaker H.J. 492Major
- Mar 2Senate Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 0 S.J. 429Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26Remove from Consent Calendar S.J. 412
- Feb 25Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed,
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25Local Government Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0Minor
- Feb 25Scheduled for hearing
- Jan 29First read in Senate and referred to Senate Local Government S.J. 143Minor
- Jan 28House of Representatives Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 56, NAYS 11 H.J. 168Passed House
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 27Local Government Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 0Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 27Scheduled for hearing
- Jan 22Referred to House Local Government H.J. 114Minor
- Jan 20First Reading House H.J. 52Introduced
Government & EthicsCivil Rights & Voting