South DakotaSouth Dakota law bars malicious interference with trained disability service dogs
The law limits this protection to dogs trained for disability-related work or tasks; comfort or companionship alone does not qualify.
What it does
People may not maliciously harm, harass, distract, or otherwise interfere with a trained dog accompanying someone with a disability. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor crime.
Argument forPeople with disabilities could have more protection from someone maliciously distracting or interfering with their service dogs.
Argument againstPeople who rely on comfort animals may not get this protection when their dogs are not trained for disability-related tasks.
More detail
South Dakota law bars people from maliciously harming or interfering with a service dog accompanying a person with a disability. The dog must be trained to do work or tasks directly related to the person's disability. The person must act maliciously. A dog's crime-deterrent presence or its role in providing emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship does not count as work or tasks.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 9Signed by the Governor Larry Rhoden on 2026-03-09 S.J. 488Became Law
- Mar 4Delivered to the Governor on 2026-03-04 S.J. 455To Governor
- Mar 3Signed by the Speaker H.J. 493Major
- Mar 2Signed by the President S.J. 434Major
- Feb 26House of Representatives Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 66, NAYS 0 H.J. 457Passed House
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed, H.J. 29
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25Judiciary Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 12, NAYS 0 H.J. 29Minor
- Feb 25Scheduled for hearing
- Feb 2Referred to House Judiciary H.J. 194Minor
- Jan 29First Reading House H.J. 182
- Jan 28Senate Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0 S.J. 131Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 27Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed, S.J. 7
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 27Judiciary Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0 S.J. 7Minor
- Jan 27Scheduled for hearing
- Jan 14First read in Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary S.J. 34Introduced
Criminal JusticeDisability Rights