South DakotaAgencies arrange interpreters for people in contested administrative cases
South Dakota agencies deciding contested cases must appoint a disinterested interpreter or translator when a party or witness needs language help, using funds appropriated for agency operations.
What it does
When a party or witness needs language help in an agency case, the agency that decides it must appoint an interpreter or translator and pay reasonable costs from its operating funds.
The party who wins a contested case may recover interpreter or translator costs for gathering evidence or bringing the case, except costs already covered by the agency.
Argument forPeople who need language help may be better able to take part when agencies arrange interpreters for their cases.
Argument againstAgencies could have less money for other work because interpreter costs come from funds set aside for agency operations.
More detail
The agency that decides a contested case must arrange and appoint an interpreter or translator. This applies when a party or witness needs language help in an agency contested case. The interpreter or translator must be disinterested, meaning not involved in the case. The agency pays reasonable and fair costs from money appropriated for its operations.
The party who wins a contested case may recover certain interpreter or translator costs. This applies to the party who wins a contested case. The costs must be for gathering or obtaining evidence, or for bringing the case. Costs already covered under the agency payment rule are excluded.
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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 9Signed by the Governor Larry Rhoden on 2026-03-09 H.J. 534Became Law
- Mar 3Delivered to the Governor on 2026-03-03 H.J. 480To Governor
- Mar 2Signed by the President S.J. 434Major
- Feb 26Signed by the Speaker H.J. 462Major
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26Senate Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 30, NAYS 2 S.J. 416Passed Senate
- Feb 25Remove from Consent Calendar S.J. 399
- Feb 24Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed, S.J. 29
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Judiciary Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0 S.J. 29Minor
- Feb 24Scheduled for hearing
- Feb 18First read in Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary S.J. 296Minor
- Feb 17House of Representatives Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 48, NAYS 18 H.J. 336Passed House
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Judiciary Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 8, NAYS 1Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Scheduled for hearing H.J. 1
- Jan 29First read in House and referred to House Judiciary H.J. 178Introduced
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