clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal.

Plain English Breakdown

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

clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal.

clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal.

What This Bill Does

• clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal.
• 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/4740/Detail">Carley</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4756/Detail">Grove</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4800/Detail">Perry</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4803/Detail">Pischke</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4828/Detail">Voight</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4837/Detail">Wipf</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4835/Detail">Zikmund</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/4770/Detail">Jensen (Phil)</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4783/Detail">Manhart</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4789/Detail">Moore</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4809/Detail">Reimer</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4811/Detail">Rice</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4947/Detail">Shubeck</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

clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal.
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/4740/Detail">Carley</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4756/Detail">Grove</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4800/Detail">Perry</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4803/Detail">Pischke</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4828/Detail">Voight</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4837/Detail">Wipf</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4835/Detail">Zikmund</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/4770/Detail">Jensen (Phil)</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4783/Detail">Manhart</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4789/Detail">Moore</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4809/Detail">Reimer</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4811/Detail">Rice</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4947/Detail">Shubeck</a>

Current Bill Text

26.2.10 101st Legislative Session 81

2026 South Dakota Legislature
Senate Bill 81
ENROLLED

AN ACT

ENTITLED An Act to clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That § 40-1-38 be AMENDED:
40-1-38. No person may maliciously beat, injure, attempt to injure, harass,
intimidate, entice, distract, or otherwise interfere with any service animal accompanying
a person with a disability. A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
For purposes of this section, "service animal" means a dog that is trained to do
work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, as set forth in 28
C.F.R. § 36.104 (January 1, 2026), provided the work or tasks performed by the dog are
directly related to the individual's disability. The crime deterrent effects of a dog's
presence and the provision of emotional support, well -being, comfort, or companionship
do not constitute work or tasks.
26.2.10 2 81
SB81 ENROLLED
An Act to clarify the prohibition on injuring or harassing a service animal.

I certify that the attached Act originated in
the:

Senate as Bill No. 81

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. 81
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