require the sealing of court files upon dismissal or denial of a petition for a protection order.

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

require the sealing of court files upon dismissal or denial of a petition for a protection order.

require the sealing of court files upon dismissal or denial of a petition for a protection order.

What This Bill Does

• require the sealing of court files upon dismissal or denial of a petition for a protection order.
• Official keyword topics: Crimes Domestic Abuse Domestic Relations Public Records and Files Official sponsor note: Representatives <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4823/Detail">Stevens</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4753/Detail">Goodwin</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4760/Detail">Heermann</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4764/Detail">Hughes</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4778/Detail">Kull</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4789/Detail">Moore</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4791/Detail">Muckey</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4812/Detail">Roby</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4824/Detail">Uhre-Balk</a> and Senators <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4781/Detail">Larson</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4807/Detail">Reed</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4821/Detail">Smith</a>

Limits and Unknowns

• This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Official Summary Text

require the sealing of court files upon dismissal or denial of a petition for a protection order.
Official keyword topics:
Crimes
Domestic Abuse
Domestic Relations
Public Records and Files
Official sponsor note: Representatives <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4823/Detail">Stevens</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4753/Detail">Goodwin</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4760/Detail">Heermann</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4764/Detail">Hughes</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4778/Detail">Kull</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4789/Detail">Moore</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4791/Detail">Muckey</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4812/Detail">Roby</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4824/Detail">Uhre-Balk</a> and Senators <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4781/Detail">Larson</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4807/Detail">Reed</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4821/Detail">Smith</a>

Current Bill Text

26.55.13 101st Legislative Session 1108

2026 South Dakota Legislature
House Bill 1108
ENROLLED

AN ACT

ENTITLED An Act to require the sealing of court files upon dismissal or denial of a
petition for a protection order.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 22-19A:
If the court dismisses a petition filed pursuant to § 22-19A-8 without a hearing
pursuant to § 22-19A-10, the clerk of court must immediately seal the petition and any
supporting documents in the case.
Section 2. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 22-19A:
If the court denies a petition filed pursuant to § 22-19A-8 after a hearing pursuant
to § 22-19A-10, the court must seal the case upon a finding on the record that the petition
was filed with no basis in fact or law and was harassing, frivolous, or abusive in nature.
The court shall notify law enforcement of any sealing order issued pursuant to this
section. Upon notification, law enforcement must make any record of the petition
nonpublic.
Section 3. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 25-10:
If the court dismisses a petition filed pursuant to § 25-10-3 without a hearing held
pursuant to § 25-10-4, the clerk of court must immediately seal the petition and any
supporting documents in the case.
Section 4. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 25-10:
If the court denies a petition filed pursuant to § 25-10-3 without a hearing held
pursuant to § 25-10-4, the court must seal the case upon a finding on the record that the
26.55.13 2 1108
HB1108 ENROLLED
petition was filed with no basis in fact or law and was harassing, frivolous, or abusive in
nature.
The court shall notify law enforcement of any sealing order issued pursuant to this
section. Upon notification, law enforcement must make any record of the petition
nonpublic.
Section 5. The Unified Judicial System shall apply the provisions of sections 1 and 3 of this
Act retroactively to all court records maintained electronically.
26.55.13 3 1108
HB1108 ENROLLED
An Act to require the sealing of court files upon dismissal or denial of a petition for a protection
order.

I certify that the attached Act originated in
the:

House as Bill No. 1108

Chief Clerk of the House

Speaker of the House

Attest:

Chief Clerk of the House

President of the Senate

Attest:

Secretary of the Senate

House Bill No. 1108
File No. ____
Chapter No. ______

Received at this Executive Office
this _____ day of _____________,

2026 at ____________M.

By
for the Governor

The attached Act is hereby
approved this ________ day of
______________, A.D., 2026

Governor

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA,
ss.
Office of the Secretary of State

Filed ____________, 2026
at _________ o'clock __M.

Secretary of State

By
Asst. Secretary of State