South Dakota House Committee approves county consolidation bill
Photo: Brent Nathaniel
February 28, 2024
PIERRE, S.D.–It’s been 41 years since two South Dakota counties combined.
But for longer than that, some politicians and academics have thought more counties should merge.
On Tuesday, the House Local Government Committee passed Senate Bill 199 to facilitate possible county consolidations.
The bill clarifies the consolidation process and allows county commissions and citizens to initiate the process.
The last county to consolidate was Washabaugh in western South Dakota in 1983. It was an unorganized county which then merged with Jackson County.
