How to Track a Bill Online

How to Track a Bill Online During the 2017 Session

Step 1

Go to the Legislative Research Council website at: http://sdlegislature.gov/.

Step 2

Click on “Legislative Session” on the left hand side of the page and then select “2017.”

Step 3

You have many options now depending what you are looking for. If you want to look for a specific bill or do a text search or view the subject index click on “Bills.”

Step 4

If you click on “Quick Find” you are able to type in the bill number.

If you aren’t sure of the bill number then you can do a text search or look through the subject index.

Step 5

After you’ve found the bill you want to track, you can click on the bill and see a page like the one here (since no bills are entered yet for 2017 we’ve pulled up a page from the 2016 Session).

You’ll see the sponsors of the bill, a short explanation of the bill, the date it was first introduced and the committee it was assigned to.

If the bill is scheduled for hearing you will see that date next. The information following the hearing will indicate the dates and any action taken – debate and/or action in a committee, possible amendments to the bill, debate and/or action in the Full Senate or House, etc.

Within the page of the bill you can view many other things. If you click on a vote total you can view how a Legislator voted. If you want to listen to the actual testimony/debate click on the Public Broadcasting symbol to the right.

If you want to read the full text of the bill click on the “Bill Text Versions” at the bottom of the page.