01/31/2026
New penalties for fake service animals
Senate Bill 82 makes it a Class 2 misdemeanor to misrepresent an animal as a service animal. That means up to 30 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, or both. Senate Bill 81 clarifies protections against injuring or harassing legitimate service animals.
South Dakota state Senate unanimously passed legislation cracking down on fake service animals while protecting legitimate service dog teams.
