SB138 • 2026

revise the time within which a recount for a school board election must be completed.

Education Elections

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Goodwin
Last action: 2026-03-05
Official status: Signed by the Governor
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.

revise the time within which a recount for a school board election must be completed.

What This Bill Does

revise the time within which a recount for a school board election must be completed.
Official keyword topics: Boards of School Districts Education Election Verification Elections Official sponsor note: Senator <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4765/Detail">Hulse</a> (prime) and Representative <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4753/Detail">Goodwin</a> (prime)

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

2026-03-05 Senate
Signed by the Governor
2026-03-04 Senate
Delivered to the Governor
2026-03-03 House of Representatives
Signed by the Speaker
2026-03-02 Senate
Signed by the President
2026-02-26 House of Representatives
Do Pass
2026-02-25 House Education
Certified uncontested, placed on consent
2026-02-25 House Education
Do Pass
2026-02-25 House Education
Scheduled for hearing
2026-02-18 House of Representatives
First read in House and referred to House Education
2026-02-17 Senate
Do Pass
2026-02-12 Senate Education
Certified uncontested, placed on consent
2026-02-12 Senate Education
Do Pass
2026-02-12 Senate Education
Scheduled for hearing
2026-01-29 Senate
Referred to Senate Education
2026-01-27 Senate
First Reading Senate

Official Summary Text

revise the time within which a recount for a school board election must be completed.
Official keyword topics:
Boards of School Districts
Education
Election Verification
Elections
Official sponsor note: Senator <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4765/Detail">Hulse</a> (prime) and Representative <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4753/Detail">Goodwin</a> (prime)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

26.615.19 101st Legislative Session 138

2026 South Dakota Legislature
Senate Bill 138
ENROLLED

AN ACT

ENTITLED An Act to revise the time within which a recount for a school board
election must be completed.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That § 13-7-19.2 be AMENDED:
13-7-19.2. If any candidate for the school board is defeated by a margin not
exceeding two percent of the total votes cast for all candidates for the office, the candidate
may, within five days after completion of the official canvass, file with the business
manager of the school district a written request for a recount. Upon receipt of a recount
request, the business manager shall:
(1) Set the time and place for a recount; and
(2) Appoint a recount board.
The business manager shall appoint to the recount board one individual chosen by
each candidate who is eligible to participate in the recount.
If the recount board consists of an even number of persons, the business manager
must appoint one additional recount board member. The additional board member
appointed by the business manager must be agreeable to each candidate involved in the
recount. If the additional board member appointed by the business manager is not
agreeable to each candidate involved in the recount, the secretary of state shall appoint
the additional member.
The individual having custody of the ballot boxes containing the ballots to be
recounted shall produce the ballot boxes when the recount board convenes. The recount
board shall resolve all questions arising on the recount by majority vote. The recount must
proceed as expeditiously as reasonably possible until completed.
Any recount conducted under this section must be completed before the annual
meeting of the board held pursuant to § 13-8-10.
26.615.19 2 138
SB138 ENROLLED
An Act to revise the time within which a recount for a school board election must be
completed.

I certify that the attached Act originated in
the:

Senate as Bill No. 138

Secretary of the Senate

President of the Senate

Attest:

Secretary of the Senate

Speaker of the House

Attest:

Chief Clerk of the House

Senate Bill No. 138
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