make an appropriation for the expansion of broadband infrastructure and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota funds broadband expansion grants

The law gives South Dakota’s Governor’s Office of Economic Development $87 million in federal spending authority for broadband expansion grants. Grants must follow federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program guidelines. The office’s commissioner must approve payment vouchers, and the State Auditor must issue payments. Money neither spent nor committed must revert under existing state procedures. The emergency law took effect immediately upon passage and approval. It funds broadband infrastructure, not guaranteed payments or service for individual households.