The South Dakota Legislature is established by Article III of the Constitution of South Dakota as a bicameral legislative body. Legislative Sessions can run for up to 40 days every year, depending on the legislative calendar set by the Legislature.

The 2024 Legislative Session will begin Tuesday, January 9, 2024, and ends Monday, March 25, 2024, to complete a 38-day session. During the Session, the Legislature will be in recess beginning Friday, March 8 through Friday, March 22.

Senate

House

The Senate consists of 35 Senators (31Republicans, 4 Democrats) representing 35 districts. The Constitution provides for not fewer than 25 or more than 35 members.

You can find a complete list of Senators Legislators at sdlegislature.gov.

The House consists of 70 Representatives (63 Republicans, 7 Democrats) representing 35 districts. The Constitution provides for not fewer than 50 or more than 75 members. Districts 26 and 28 have been subdivided into two House districts to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

You can find a complete list of House Legislators at sdlegislature.gov.

A bill is simply an idea that someone would like to see become law. It could be anything from the penalty for committing a crime to the amount of money that can be spent on a state program. The idea can come from anyone, but only a Representative or Senator can take that idea and guide it to final passage through the State Legislature.

Following the introduction and first reading of a bill in either house, the presiding officer assigns the bill to a committee based on the subject matter. Generally, bills dealing with certain subjects are assigned to the same committee.

The South Dakota Legislative Research Council, a nonpartisan professional staff for lawmakers, prepares legislative drafts and provides professional staff to standing committees and individual legislators for technical advice and research.