South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden, surrounded by lawmakers on March 12, 2026, at the Capitol in Pierre, signs bills to apply sales tax revenue to the reduction of homeowner property taxes. (Photo by Meghan O’Brien/South Dakota Searchlight)
PIERRE — Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden signed two bills into law Thursday that he said will work in tandem to provide “the largest property tax cut in South Dakota history,” although a past tax cut may have been bigger when adjusted for inflation, and the new laws rely on increased sales taxes to fund property tax relief for homeowners.
The last time the state approved a historic reduction in property taxes was in 1995 under then-Gov. Bill Janklow, which current Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen said was worth about $100 million, or $120 million when incorporating further relief measures passed in successive years.
That relief would be worth more than $250 million today, after adjusting for inflation.
