State desk
Ranks 11th of 50 on the Liberty Index, with no state income tax.
Where South Dakota stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 10 South Dakota outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · South Dakota in red. Free to cite with attribution.
No permit required to carry a concealed handgun since 2019; optional permits remain available for reciprocity.
South Dakota is 1 of 29 states with this rule
15 · Shall-Issue Permit6 · Restrictive: Permit Required
South Dakota levies no individual income tax, so wage and salary income is untaxed at the state level. Eight states do the same.
South Dakota is 1 of 8 states with this rule
1 · Capital Gains Only15 · Single Flat Rate26 · Graduated Brackets
South Dakota charges 30.00 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 27 of 50, which is near the middle nationally. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 48.40 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 30.00 cents.
South Dakota is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Among the Highest17 · Among the Lowest
Retains the death penalty.
South Dakota is 1 of 23 states with this rule
4 · Retains it, executions paused23 · Abolished
Right-to-work protected in the state constitution since 1946.
South Dakota is 1 of 26 states with this rule
24 · No Right-to-Work Law
State minimum wage is $11.85, above the federal $7.25 floor; adjusted annually for inflation.
South Dakota is 1 of 30 states with this rule
12 · Matches the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies5 · No State Minimum Wage Law
Voters are asked for photo ID; those without one can still vote by signing an affidavit of identity.
South Dakota is 1 of 14 states with this rule
10 · Strict Photo ID4 · Strict Non-Photo ID8 · ID Requested (No Photo)14 · No Document Required
Partners in Education tax-credit scholarship serves only low-income students.
South Dakota is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Universal / Near-Universal17 · No Private-Choice Program
NCSL lists South Dakota among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present.
South Dakota is 1 of 31 states with this rule
7 · Recognized by Court Decision12 · Not Listed by NCSL
Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without providing a reason.
South Dakota is 1 of 29 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail13 · Excuse Required
South Dakota's unemployment rate was 2.0% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from August. It has the lowest rate of the 51 (the 50 states and D.C.). A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 2.1%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
South Dakota is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court