clarify the procedure for a potential condemnor to examine real property absent the property owner's permission.

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 procedure for a potential condemnor to examine real property absent the property owner's permission.

clarify the procedure for a potential condemnor to examine real property absent the property owner's permission.

What This Bill Does

• clarify the procedure for a potential condemnor to examine real property absent the property owner's permission.
• Official keyword topics: Eminent Domain Judicial Remedies Official sponsor note: Senators <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4780/Detail">Lapka</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4740/Detail">Carley</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4751/Detail">Foster</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4756/Detail">Grove</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4762/Detail">Hohn</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4769/Detail">Jensen (Kevin)</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4794/Detail">Nelson</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4800/Detail">Perry</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4802/Detail">Peterson (Sue)</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4803/Detail">Pischke</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4829/Detail">Voita</a> and Representatives <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4782/Detail">Lems</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4734/Detail">Aylward</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4737/Detail">Baxter</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4753/Detail">Goodwin</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4758/Detail">Hansen</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4761/Detail">Heinemann</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4764/Detail">Hughes</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4770/Detail">Jensen (Phil)</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4771/Detail">Jordan</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4783/Detail">Manhart</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4786/Detail">May</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4789/Detail">Moore</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4795/Detail">Nolz</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4796/Detail">Novstrup</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4799/Detail">Overweg</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4816/Detail">Schaefbauer</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4818/Detail">Schwans</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4820/Detail">Sjaarda</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 procedure for a potential condemnor to examine real property absent the property owner's permission.
Official keyword topics:
Eminent Domain
Judicial Remedies
Official sponsor note: Senators <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4780/Detail">Lapka</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4740/Detail">Carley</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4751/Detail">Foster</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4756/Detail">Grove</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4762/Detail">Hohn</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4769/Detail">Jensen (Kevin)</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4794/Detail">Nelson</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4800/Detail">Perry</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4802/Detail">Peterson (Sue)</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4803/Detail">Pischke</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4829/Detail">Voita</a> and Representatives <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4782/Detail">Lems</a> (prime), <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4734/Detail">Aylward</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4737/Detail">Baxter</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4753/Detail">Goodwin</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4758/Detail">Hansen</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4761/Detail">Heinemann</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4764/Detail">Hughes</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4770/Detail">Jensen (Phil)</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4771/Detail">Jordan</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4783/Detail">Manhart</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4786/Detail">May</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4789/Detail">Moore</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4795/Detail">Nolz</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4796/Detail">Novstrup</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4799/Detail">Overweg</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4816/Detail">Schaefbauer</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4818/Detail">Schwans</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/4820/Detail">Sjaarda</a>

Current Bill Text

26.440.16 101st Legislative Session 88

2026 South Dakota Legislature
Senate Bill 88
ENROLLED

AN ACT

ENTITLED An Act to clarify the procedure for a potential condemnor to examine real
property absent the property owner's permission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That § 21-35-31 be AMENDED:
21-35-31. The provisions of this section only apply to a project that requires a
siting permit pursuant to chapter 49-41B. Except as otherwise provided in this section,
any person vested with authority to take private property for public use may cause an
examination and survey to be made as necessary for proposed facilities, and the person,
or the person's agent or officer, may enter the property to conduct the examination and
survey.
If the owner of the property denies permission for the examination or survey, the
person may conduct only an examination and must:
(1) Have a pending or approved siting permit application with the Public Utilities
Commission of the State of South Dakota pursuant to § 49-41B-11;
(2) Provide to the owner thirty days' written notice, served in accordance with § 15-6-
4 or sent by certified mail with return receipt requested, which contains:
(a) A description of the specific portions of property to be examined;
(b) The anticipated date and time of entry;
(c) The anticipated duration of presence on the property;
(d) A description of the type of examination that may be conducted; and
(e) The name and contact information of the person, or the person's agent or
officer, who will enter the property to conduct the examination; and
(3) Make a payment to the owner, or provide sufficient security for the payment, for
any actual damage done to the property by the entry.
26.440.16 2 88
SB88 ENROLLED
The owner may challenge the proposed examination or survey by commencing an
action in circuit court in the county where the examination or survey is proposed, within
thirty days of service of the written notice.
Upon written request, the owner is entitled to a copy of the results of any survey
or examination conducted pursuant to this section.
This section does not apply to the state or its political subdivisions. This section is
in addition to and not in derogation of other existing law.
For purposes of this section, "examination" means a minimally invasive, superficial
inspection of real property, resulting in no more than minor soil disturbances, to obtain
general information that is not a matter of public record. For purposes of this se ction,
"survey" means a more detailed, comprehensive, or invasive investigation of real
property.
26.440.16 3 88
SB88 ENROLLED
An Act to clarify the procedure for a potential condemnor to examine real property absent the
property owner's permission.

I certify that the attached Act originated in
the:

Senate as Bill No. 88

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. 88
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