South Dakota2026Active
HB1257
Amending the Legal Definition of Abortion in South Dakota
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 3:29 AM
In one sentence
This law changes how South Dakota defines abortion and lists specific medical situations that do not count as abortions under state law.
What it does
- Changes the definition of 'abortion' to mean intentionally ending the life of a human being inside the uterus.
- States that accidental or unintentional death during treatment is not an abortion.
- Excludes treating miscarriages from the definition of abortion.
- Excludes treating or removing ectopic pregnancies from the definition of abortion.
- Removes deceased unborn children from the uterus without counting it as an abortion.
- Clarifies that procedures to save the life or preserve the health of the unborn child are not abortions.
Who it affects
- Physicians and medical providers who treat pregnant women
- Pregnant individuals in South Dakota
Limits and unknowns
- The official text does not state exactly what date this law becomes effective.
- This section defines terms but does not list new penalties for breaking these rules in this specific excerpt.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Ectopic pregnancy
- A condition treated or removed that is not considered an abortion under this law.
- Miscarriage
- The spontaneous loss of a pregnancy, which treatment for does not count as an abortion.
- Fertilization
- The point in time when a male human sperm penetrates the zona pellucida of a female human ovum.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
amend the definition of an abortion.
Official activity
Bill history
- Signed by the Governor