Pedal pubs, snow-mobile coyote hunting, tax relief for veterans come with deluge of new laws

Half-year mark triggers statutes that earned endorsements of South Dakota Legislature, Gov. Kristi Noem

South Dakota hunters can use snowmobiles to chase down coyotes. And now their guests can, too.

Since 2011, adult hunters have been able to use snow mobiles in the taking of the prairie wolf as long as they’re on their own land. But now, hunting coyotes from the winter recreation vehicles is allowed for any adult sportsmen who has permission from a landowner.

That’s the result of lawmakers this year passing Senate Bill 14, which stipulates snow machines must be completely stopped when an attempt to shoot a coyote is made. That a firearm is the type of weapon used in the hunt is also a requirement.

The expanded winter sporting option comes amid a flurry of new laws that hit the books Monday — July 1 — after a busy state Legislature considered hundreds of bills and resolutions during their nine-week State Capitol outing earlier this year.

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Nearly half passed. Legislators and Gov. Kristi Noem signed off on reforms to South Dakota’s criminal justice laws, the way funding for public schools is divvied up and how homeless people go about getting government paperwork. Other changes coming this week involve hunter safety, disabled veterans, financial education aid and neutering cats.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the new statutes that are now the law of the land in South Dakota: