Week 6 of the 2026 Legislative Session brought another active—and challenging—week for health care in South Dakota. An unprecedented number of proposals directly impacting our members and the overall health care community are moving through the legislature, and much of our advocacy continues to focus on protecting both sound policy and the professionals who deliver care across our state.
Here are five key takeaways from the week:
1. Vaccination Bills Are Advancing
Several vaccination-related bills moved forward despite significant opposition:
- HB 1163 – Prohibits certain persons from requiring genetic-based vaccinations. Passed House Health (8–5); now heads to the full House.
- HB 1210 – Prohibits COVID-19 vaccination requirements and establishes penalties. Also passed House Health (8–5); advancing to the House floor.
SDAHO opposed both measures and continues to advocate on behalf of providers and patients.
2. SB 233 Was Defeated
SB 233, which would have prohibited certain administrative fees related to out-of-network care, was supported by SDAHO but was deferred to the 41st legislative day in Senate Health—effectively defeating the bill.
3. Harmful Legislation Was Stopped
HB 1171, related to disclosure of COVID-19 and mRNA vaccination status and blood donations, passed committee but failed on the House floor (23–42) following strong education and advocacy efforts. This marks an important defensive win for our members.
4. Positive Health Care Bills Are Moving Forward
Several measures supporting our members advanced:
- HB 1250 – Revises community-based provider types for state-funded services. Passed unanimously out of committee and the full House.
- HB 1292 – Limits a health carrier’s ability to retroactively deny or recoup previously paid claims. Passed House Commerce (12–1); now moves to the full House.
5. Key Bills Signed into Law
Governor Larry Rhoden has already signed several SDAHO-supported bills:
- HB 1023 & HB 1024 – Establish requirements and liability protections for RNs and LPNs serving on ambulance crews.
- HB 1044 – Appropriates funding to implement the rural health transformation program.
To view the 2026: Week 6 Legislative Update podcast on SDAHO’s YouTube Channel, click here.
SDAHO will continue to actively advocate on behalf of our members throughout the session. We encourage you to review the full list of bills we are supporting, opposing, or monitoring through the SDAHO Bill Tracker.
For the latest updates, visit the SDAHO State Advocacy webpage.
