Two South Dakota bills that seek to strengthen protections related to the use of service dogs are scheduled for committee hearings tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27, 2026. South Dakota residents are encouraged to contact legislators via email to express support for Senate Bill 81 and Senate Bill 82 before tomorrow’s 8:30AM meeting.
What These Bills Do
SB 81 clarifies the definition of “service animal” in the state’s animal cruelty law, aligning it with federal standards. “Service animal” would be defined as, “a dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, as set forth in [federal regulations], provided the work or tasks performed by the dog are directly related to the individual’s disability.”
SB 82 prohibits the intentional misrepresentation of a dog as a service dog. It uses the same definition of “service animal” as SB 81 does, therefore also aligning it with federal standards.
AKC Supports The Use of Service Dogs, Condemns Misrepresenting Pets as Service Dogs
The American Kennel Club (AKC) strongly supports the training and use of dogs by humans, whose lives are enriched by dogs’ performing essential services, including valuable services like handicapped assistance dogs. AKC encourages the continuation and further development of the use of dogs as service animals and for similar purposes.
AKC also strongly condemns characterizing dogs as service animals when they are not, or attempting to benefit from a dog’s service dog status when the individual using the dog is not a person with a disability.
What South Dakota Residents Can Do to Support SB 81 AND SB 82
South Dakota residents are encouraged to email the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to express support for SB 81 and SB 82 today. The committee will consider both bills tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
State Senator Steve Kolbeck, Chair – Steve.Kolbeck@sdlegislature.gov
State Senator Amber Hulse, Vice Chair – Amber.Hulse@sdlegislature.gov
State Senator Greg Blanc – Greg.Blanc@sdlegislature.gov
State Senator Helene Duhamel – Helene.Duhamel@sdlegislature.gov
State Senator Tamara Grove – Tamara.Grove@sdlegislature.gov
State Senator Jim Mehlhaff – Jim.Mehlhaff@sdlegislature.gov
State Senator Tom Pischke – Tom.Pischke@sdlegislature.gov
Committee Staffer Melanie Dumdei, Assistant Chief for Legal – Melanie.Dumdei@sdlegislature.gov
State Senator Taffy Howard, Senate Primary Sponsor of SB 81 and SB 82 – Taffy.Howard@sdlegislature.gov.
All committee members may also reached via the capitol phone line at 605-773-3821.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.