Lawmaker salaries could top $16,000 during next year’s South Dakota legislative session

PIERRE — A committee of South Dakota lawmakers endorsed budget increases Wednesday for the Legislative Research Council to cover the anticipated rise in legislator pay.

The council manages the Legislature’s day-to-day operations, helps lawmakers draft bills and is responsible for updating the state’s code of laws. Interim Director Jeff Mehlhaff asked for a $29,479 addition to the council’s fiscal year 2027 budget to cover rising lawmaker salaries, and a $96,872 increase in the council’s fiscal year 2028 budget to cover rising lawmaker salaries and “per diem” payments — Latin for “per day” — which help cover lawmakers’ daily living expenses during the annual legislative sessions.

The salary for legislators is 20% of the South Dakota median household income as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, according to state law. The number is reported in September, Mehlhaff said. He told lawmakers their salary could increase from $15,970 to $16,608 for the legislative session that begins in January — a 4% increase.

The per diem, which lawmakers earn on top of their salary during the session and for committee meetings outside of the session, is tied to rates set by the federal government. The council’s existing budget is based on a per diem of $161.95, but the current per diem is $178. During this year’s 38-day legislative session, the total per diem paid to each lawmaker was $6,764.

Legislators also receive mileage at a rate set by the Bureau of Finance and Management, which is currently 70 cents per mile.

The council’s total anticipated budget for legislator pay during the 2028 fiscal year is about $2.8 million.