An Act to provide that Native American populations be protected in the legislative redistricting process.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 2-2-41 be AMENDED:

2-2-41. Legislative policy in redistricting.

The Legislature, in making the 2011 2021 redistricting, determines, as a matter of policy, that the following principles are of primary significance:

(1) Adherence to standards of population deviance as established by judicial precedent and to standards of population deviance as prescribed by S.D. Const., Art. III, § 5;

(2) Protection of communities of interest by means of compact and contiguous districts;

(3) Respect for geographical and political boundaries, specifically counties, municipalities, and community improvement districts; and

(4) Protection of the Native American population in counties with federal Indian trust land; and

(5) Protection of minority voting rights consistent with the United States Constitution, the South Dakota Constitution, and federal statutes, as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court and other courts with jurisdiction.