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HCR6008 • 2026

requesting the attorney general file a lawsuit against the People's Republic of China and related parties to seek damages related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

requesting the attorney general file a lawsuit against the People's Republic of China and related parties to seek damages related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Schaefbauer
Last action
2026-02-06
Official status
Scheduled for hearing
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

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

requesting the attorney general file a lawsuit against the People's Republic of China and related parties to seek damages related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

requesting the attorney general file a lawsuit against the People's Republic of China and related parties to seek damages related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

What This Bill Does

  • requesting the attorney general file a lawsuit against the People's Republic of China and related parties to seek damages related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
  • Official keyword topics: COVID-19 House Concurrent Resolution Liability Official sponsor note: Representatives <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4816/Detail">Schaefbauer</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4753/Detail">Goodwin</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4766/Detail">Hunt</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4771/Detail">Jordan</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4796/Detail">Novstrup</a> and Senator <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4800/Detail">Perry</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.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-06 House Judiciary

    Deferred to the 41st legislative day

  2. 2026-02-06 House Judiciary

    Scheduled for hearing

  3. 2026-02-02 House of Representatives

    Referred to House Judiciary

  4. 2026-01-29 House of Representatives

    First Reading House

Official Summary Text

requesting the attorney general file a lawsuit against the People's Republic of China and related parties to seek damages related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Official keyword topics:
COVID-19
House Concurrent Resolution
Liability
Official sponsor note: Representatives <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4816/Detail">Schaefbauer</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4753/Detail">Goodwin</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4766/Detail">Hunt</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4771/Detail">Jordan</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4796/Detail">Novstrup</a> and Senator <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4800/Detail">Perry</a>

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
26.665.15 101st Legislative Session HCR6008

2026 South Dakota Legislature
House Concurrent Resolution
6008

Introduced by: Representative Schaefbauer

Underscores indicate new language.
Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION requesting the attorney general file a lawsuit against 1
the People's Republic of China and related parties to seek damages related to 2
the COVID-19 global pandemic. 3
WHEREAS, the SARS CoV-2 virus originated as a result of a gain-of-function viral genetic 4
research project at the People's Liberation Army bioweapons BSL -4 laboratory in Wuhan, 5
China; and 6
WHEREAS, the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID -19, a respiratory illness responsible for 7
the 2020 global viral pandemic; and 8
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic killed thousands of South Dakota residents and placed 9
undue cost and strain on medical providers, medical facilities, nursing homes, healthcare 10
workers, business communities, and the general public; 11
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the One Hundred 12
First Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that the attorney 13
general is requested to file a lawsuit, and shall, without further authorization or directive from 14
this Legislature, join and cooperate in any similar or existing state or federal litigation, against 15
the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, and the People's Liberation 16
Army bioweapons BSL -4 laboratory located in Wuhan, China, and all responsible parties, 17
governmental, foreign and domestic, seeking one hundred billion dollars in compensatory and 18
punitive damages for engaging in irresponsible and dangerous gain -of-function viral genetic 19
research that resulted in the creation of the SARS -CoV-2 virus and the COVID -19 global 20
pandemic; and 21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the South Dakota Legislature is requested to establish 22
and empower a South Dakota COVID-19 Victims Relief Fund, which will be a committee made 23
up of lawyers, medical professionals, financial experts, legislators, and victims, to administer, 24
26.665.15 2 HCR6008
Underscores indicate new language.
Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
oversee, direct, and disburse any and all damages and compensatory moneys secured from 1
the People's Republic of China and ancillary parties to South Dakota citizens and families 2
thereof, as compensation for the death, sickness, medical costs, business closures, loss of 3
income, or personal or financial hardship caused by the SARS -CoV-2 virus, up to an amount 4
of two hundred fifty thousand dollars per impacted person, upon reasonable and documented 5
proof of losses directly attributable to the COVID-19 global pandemic. 6