modify requirements regarding nondomiciled commercial driver licenses.

Stricter commercial licensing for some immigrant drivers

South Dakota limits nondomiciled commercial learner's permits and driver licenses to people with lawful H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 work-visa status. This includes people whose permanent home is in a U.S. territory and who hold one of those visas. Applicants must meet federal commercial driving rules in 49 C.F.R. Parts 383 and 384 as of January 1, 2026. Noncitizen applicants who are not lawful permanent residents must show an unexpired foreign passport and unexpired Form I-94 or I-94A. Those documents must show qualifying status at issuance, transfer, renewal, and upgrade. The state must verify immigration status through the federal SAVE system and keep application documents for at least two years. Permits and licenses expire by the I-94 or I-94A expiration date or one year after issuance, whichever comes first. Every renewal requires an in-person visit, and license renewals require valid documents showing permission to stay in the United States. The state must downgrade permits or licenses when holders no longer qualify. Each credential must say “nondomiciled,” and applicants must surrender any nondomiciled commercial license from another state. Holders face the same disqualifications and conditions as commercial drivers whose permanent home is South Dakota. The state may renew a commercial license without skills or knowledge tests when it expired less than one year ago.