Native Notes is a new project from our Lakota Advocacy Center. We want to empower our relatives to better understand legislation impacting our communities. We believe these newsletters will help new and established community organizers identify and pursue policy change based on our shared values and our traditional teachings.
South Dakota residents can register to vote here.
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This measure grants greater control of the site of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre to the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes.
This bill was signed into law on December 19, 2025, protecting tribal stewardship of the land and the legacy of the massacre.
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SB 196 would have required public schools to teach in-depth curriculum about the Oċeti Ṡak̄owiŋ (L/D/Nakota nations). Providing this education would have ensured that all South Dakota Students learn about the history, culture, and governance of Oċeti Ṡak̄owiŋ.
This bill was rejected by our state legislators on February 18, 2025, harming local youth.
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HB 1002 requires all certified teachers in South Dakota to complete a course in South Dakota Indian Studies to obtain or renew their teaching license. This means that whether a teacher is newly certified or renewing after years in the classroom, they must complete this course.
Signed into law on February 19, 2025 this act ensures teachers have a basic understanding of Indigenous peoples in South Dakota
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In 1863 the US Congress passed into law the Sioux-Dakota Removal Act, which authorized the forceful displacement of our Dakota relatives from their homelands. SD Senate Resolution 702 was approved urging the US Congress to repeal the 1863 Sioux-Dakota Removal Act, without affecting current property rights or impacting the land given to these tribes in the process of removal.
Repealing this act would serve as a symbol, showing a commitment to removing from law measures that were designed to erode tribal sovereignty and the relationships these tribes share with their homelands.
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Prohibiting the forced sale of land to create carbon oxide pipelines, SD House Bill 1052 protects landowners from land grabs by pipeline developers. Future construction of these pipelines will require deeper consultation with landowners to develop voluntary easements or land purchases for pipeline construction. By preventing the use of eminent domain for pipelines transporting carbon oxide, the SD State Legislature has chosen to protect landowners. This law is important protection not only for private landowners but especially for Indigenous communities whose lands have long been targeted for extractive infrastructure without consent.
This bill was signed into law on March 6, 2025
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Introduced by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) with Cosponsors John Hoeven (R-ND), Ruben Gellego (D-AZ), and Mike Rounds (R-SD), the Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act would directly benefit Native communities by increasing federal accountability and improving coordination with tribal law enforcement and MMIP cases.
This measure is a response to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Indigenous women and girls face higher levels of physical and sexual violence than the national average, and unlike the general population most of this violence is committed by people from other communities. A 2016 National Institute of Justice report found that “more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3 percent) have experienced violence in their lifetime, including 56.1 percent who have experienced sexual violence.”
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This bill represents an opportunity for our state to show its commitment to students and their health. By dedicating funds to nutritious school meals, the state would ensure that students are better equipped to learn and the districts to teach. Despite lobbying against the bill earlier in the year, South Dakota’s governor signed the bill into law on March 12, 2026.
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South Dakota House Bill 1005 proposes to exempt new data centers from sales taxes. This measure is meant to encourage business development and innovation, but the reality is that data centers take far more from the communities that house them than they give back. Communities with data centers see rapidly rising electrical costs as increased usage drives utility rates up for everyone. House Bill 1005 was deferred to the 41st day of the legislative session, meaning that this bill is unlikely to be considered or passed this year. This is a victory for our communities and our planet.
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Posing as an administrative measure to ensure voting integrity, SD Senate Bill 31 makes it harder to vote, especially for rural- and Reservation-dwelling relatives. By adding steps to voter registration, this bill seeks to disenfranchise those who already face hurdles to voting. This bill is expected to be signed into law by the governor, taking effect for the 2027 elections. We encourage everyone to be diligent about voter registration, checking that your registration is current before each election.
2026 Midterm elections
what to know
The 2026 midterm elections will determine federal, state, and legislative leadership across South Dakota. These races directly shape policy decisions affecting tribal sovereignty, healthcare, education, land, and community well-being.
Key Election Dates
Primary Election: June 2, 2026
General Election: November 3, 2026
Voter Registration Deadlines:
May 18, 2026 (Primary)
October 19, 2026 (General)
What’s on the Ballot
Federal: U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives
Statewide Offices: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State
State Legislature: All South Dakota State and House seats
We encourage community members to check their voter registration status, learn about candidates, and make a plan to vote - whether early, absentee, or on Election Day.
Official election information and registration tools are available through the South Dakota Secretary of State.