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SB156 • 2026

modify the crime of cruelty to an animal and increase the penalty therefor.

modify the crime of cruelty to an animal and increase the penalty therefor.

Agriculture Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
Goodwin
Last action
2026-02-26
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.

modify the crime of cruelty to an animal and increase the penalty therefor.

modify the crime of cruelty to an animal and increase the penalty therefor.

What This Bill Does

  • modify the crime of cruelty to an animal and increase the penalty therefor.
  • Official keyword topics: Animals and Livestock Penalty Official sponsor note: Senators <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4763/Detail">Howard</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4781/Detail">Larson</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4800/Detail">Perry</a> and Representatives <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4753/Detail">Goodwin</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4731/Detail">Andera</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4737/Detail">Baxter</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4755/Detail">Greenfield</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4770/Detail">Jensen (Phil)</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4789/Detail">Moore</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. 2026-02-26 House Agriculture and Natural Resources

    Deferred to the 41st legislative day

  2. 2026-02-26 House Agriculture and Natural Resources

    Deferred to the 41st legislative day

  3. 2026-02-26 House Agriculture and Natural Resources

    Do Pass

  4. 2026-02-26 House Agriculture and Natural Resources

    Scheduled for hearing

  5. 2026-02-12 House of Representatives

    First read in House and referred to House Agriculture and Natural Resources

  6. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Do Pass

  7. 2026-02-10 Senate Judiciary

    Do Pass

  8. 2026-02-10 Senate Judiciary

    Scheduled for hearing

  9. 2026-01-29 Senate

    First read in Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary

Official Summary Text

modify the crime of cruelty to an animal and increase the penalty therefor.
Official keyword topics:
Animals and Livestock
Penalty
Official sponsor note: Senators <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4763/Detail">Howard</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4781/Detail">Larson</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4800/Detail">Perry</a> and Representatives <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4753/Detail">Goodwin</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4731/Detail">Andera</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4737/Detail">Baxter</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4755/Detail">Greenfield</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4770/Detail">Jensen (Phil)</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4789/Detail">Moore</a>

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
26.262.11 101st Legislative Session 156

2026 South Dakota Legislature
Senate Bill 156

Introduced by: Senator Howard

Underscores indicate new language.
Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
An Act to modify the crime of cruelty to an animal and increase the penalty therefor. 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: 2
Section 1. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 40-1: 3
An individual who commits the offense provided for in § 40-1-2.4 in an especially 4
depraved, heinous, sadistic, or wicked manner is guilty of a Class 4 felony. 5