Bill > HB1236

This bill amends South Dakota state law to expand the safety zone around occupied dwellings, churches, and schoolhouses where hunting and firearm discharge are restricted. Specifically, the bill changes the existing safety zone from 660 feet to one-quarter mile (approximately 1,320 feet). Under the proposed legislation, only the property owner, livestock owner, or individuals with written permission from these owners may discharge firearms or hunt within this expanded safety zone. The bill maintains existing penalties for violations, including a Class 2 misdemeanor charge and potential one-year revocation of hunting privileges for knowingly discharging a firearm within the marked safety zone. The expanded safety zone aims to increase protection for residential and community buildings by creating a larger buffer area where hunting and firearm use are more tightly controlled, thus potentially reducing the risk of accidental injury near populated areas.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26242