# South Dakota SB 36: authorize certain utilities to establish wildfire mitigation plans and associated liability limitations for wildfire damages. South Dakota SB 36, authorize certain utilities to establish wildfire mitigation plans and associated liability limitations for wildfire damages., is a 101st South Dakota Legislature (2026) Senate bill sponsored by Goodwin, Tim (Republican), Kolbeck, Steve (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-03-12 (Signed by the Governor) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-SB36-2026 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: South Dakota SB 36 - State: South Dakota - Session: 101st South Dakota Legislature (2026) - Title: authorize certain utilities to establish wildfire mitigation plans and associated liability limitations for wildfire damages. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-03-12, Signed by the Governor - Sponsors: Goodwin, Tim (Republican), Kolbeck, Steve (Republican) - Cosponsors: 44 - Subjects: Fees, Firefighters, Liability, Promulgation of Rules, Public Utilities and Carriers, Reports - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 5 (140 yes, 12 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Utilities publish wildfire safety plans: benefit, low. Qualified electric utilities and wholesale generators operating transmission can file wildfire safety plans. Plans must identify high-risk areas and set inspection, maintenance, vegetation management, and equipment-upgrade practices and schedules. They must explain when power is shut off or operati… - Wildfire victims face tighter compensation limits: cost, high. These limits apply when a qualified utility has a valid, current wildfire plan on the fire's initial ignition date. This law provides the only path for wildfire damage claims against that utility. Victims must prove an essential plan requirement was not substantially followed, or the utility acted… - Insurance payments change wildfire recovery rights: cost, low. After a wildfire insurance payment, the law treats the recipient as fully compensated only for the insurer's recovery rights. These rights let an insurer seek repayment from another responsible party. Recipients cannot rely on unpaid losses to argue they have not been made whole for that purpose. O… - Customers can pay utility wildfire costs: cost, low. The Public Utilities Commission can approve charging customers for all prudently incurred costs of an approved wildfire plan. This includes investments, spending, and the cost of financing the work. Approval is allowed even when an earlier settlement restricts the utility from seeking higher rates.… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Goodwin, Tim (Republican), House - Sponsor: Kolbeck, Steve (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Baxter, Heather (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Crabtree, Casey (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Czmowski, Tim (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Davis, Sydney (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: DeGroot, Roger (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Deibert, Randy (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Duffy, Steve (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Duhamel, Helene (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Emery, Eric (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Greenfield, Lana J. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Halverson, Jim (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Healy, Erin (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Heermann, Mellissa (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Heinemann, Leslie J. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jensen, Kevin D. (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Kassin, Chris (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Kull, David (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Ladner, Trish (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Larson, Liz (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Massie, Curt (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Mehlhaff, Jim (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Miskimins, Paul R. (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Moore, Scott (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Mortenson, Will (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Muckey, Erik (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Novstrup, Al (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Perry, Carl (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Peterson, Drew (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Reed, Tim S. (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Rehfeldt, Taylor (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Reimer, Rebecca (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Roe, Kent (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Rohl, Michael H. (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Sauder, Stephanie (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Schoenfish, Kyle (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Shorma, William (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Sjaarda, John (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Van Diepen, Kevin (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Vilhauer, Glen (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Walburg, Tim (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Weems, Keri K. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Weisgram, Mike (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Wipf, Brandon (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Zikmund, Larry P. (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-04 | Senate | Concurred in amendments | pass | 31 | 3 | | | 2026-03-02 | House | Do Pass Amended | pass | 63 | 2 | | | 2026-02-25 | House | Do Pass Amended | pass | 11 | 0 | | | 2026-01-29 | Senate | Do Pass Amended | pass | 29 | 4 | | | 2026-01-27 | Senate | Do Pass Amended | pass | 6 | 3 | | ## Actions (16) - 2026-03-12: Signed by the Governor (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Delivered to the Governor (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Signed by the Speaker (House) - 2026-03-05: Signed by the President (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Concurred in amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Do Pass Amended (House) - 2026-02-25: Do Pass Amended (House) - 2026-02-25: Motion to amend (House) - 2026-02-25: Scheduled for hearing (House) - 2026-02-02: First read in House and referred to (House) - 2026-01-29: Do Pass Amended (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Motion to amend (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Do Pass Amended (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Motion to amend (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Scheduled for hearing (Senate) - 2026-01-13: First read in Senate and referred to (Senate) ## Bill text - Introduced, 2026-01-06: [PDF](https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/api/Documents/306297.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 1245: authorize municipalities to establish a local funding mechanism for capital improvement projects. (signed) - HB 1193: modify the provisions for a refund of taxes to disabled veterans and surviving spouses under certain property tax relief programs. (signed) - HB 1148: adopt the respiratory care interstate compact. (signed) - HB 1149: adopt the athletic trainer licensure compact. (signed) - HB 1051: revise property tax levies for school districts and to revise the state aid to general and special education formulas. (signed) - HB 1082: establish parameters for the reimbursement of school districts that provide free or reduced-price meals to students. (signed) ## Sources - [Introduced (PDF)](https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/api/Documents/306297.pdf) ## Related - [HB 1245: authorize municipalities to establish a local funding mechanism for capital imp…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1245-2026) - [HB 1193: modify the provisions for a refund of taxes to disabled veterans and surviving…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1193-2026) - [HB 1148: adopt the respiratory care interstate compact.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1148-2026) - [HB 1149: adopt the athletic trainer licensure compact.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1149-2026) - [HB 1051: revise property tax levies for school districts and to revise the state aid to…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1051-2026) - [HB 1082: establish parameters for the reimbursement of school districts that provide fre…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1082-2026) - [South Dakota bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-dakota/bills) - [South Dakota state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-dakota) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-SB36-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).