State of South Dakota  
EIGHTY-SEVENTH SESSION
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2012  

606T0482   HOUSE BILL   NO.  1096  

Introduced by:    Representatives Hunt, Abdallah, Deelstra, Feinstein, Kirkeby, Novstrup (David), Perry, and Solum and Senators Cutler, Buhl, Frerichs, and Peters
 

        FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to specify the venue for certain appeals involving home-rule municipalities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
    Section 1. That § 1-26-31.1 be amended to read as follows:
    1-26-31.1. The venue of the appeal is as follows:
            (1)    If the appellant is a resident of this state, to the circuit court for the county of the appellant's residence or to the circuit court for Hughes County, as the appellant may elect;
            (2)    If the appellant is a nonresident or a foreign corporation, to the circuit court for the county of appellant's principal place of business in South Dakota or to the circuit court for Hughes County as the appellant may elect; or
            (3)    The parties may stipulate for venue in any county in the state, and the circuit court for such county shall thereupon hear the appeal;
            (4)    An appeal from a final decision, ruling, or action rendered by an administrative appeals process adopted by a home-rule municipality shall be appealed to the circuit

court in which the home-rule municipality is located.

    Appeals from a single administrative action may not proceed in more than one county. If multiple appeals of a single action are filed in more than one county, the appeals shall be consolidated and heard in the county in which the appeal is first filed. If more than one appeal is first filed on the same date and a stipulation among the parties as to venue cannot be reached, the venue of the appeal is in the circuit court for Hughes County.