FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025

Contact: Tony Mangan, Communications Director, 605-773-6878 

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley Wednesday presented the office’s proposed $41 million fiscal year 2026 budget which includes funds for the Appellate, Criminal, and Civil Attorney Divisions, the Division of Criminal Investigation, the State Forensic Lab, and Law Enforcement Training. The Attorney General also recommended funds for the Tribal Law Enforcement Training Class, to help investigate consumer protection scams, and prosecute crimes at Department of Correction facilities.

“This budget proposal provides the resources needed for the office to protect the people of South Dakota,” Attorney General Jackley told the Legislative Joint Appropriations Committee. “We appreciate the support of the Governor for including our proposals in the overall budget request, and we are requesting legislative support.”

Highlights of the budget request include:

*** $110,000 in one-time funds for costs incurred last year in hosting the first Tribal Law Enforcement Training Class. The budget also includes $176,985 in general funds to continue and increase the training course in the future.

*** $139,448 in general funds to prosecute crimes at the state Department of Corrections facilities. Additional resources are needed for DOC related prosecutions due to the passage of HB1039 of the 2024 Legislative Session which allows the Attorney General’s Office to prosecute such crimes.

*** $109,107 to hire an additional investigator for the Consumer Protection Division for fraud complaints and educate the public on recognizing and avoiding possible scams. The money for the position would come from consumer litigation settlements. 

The proposed two new hires are the only new staff members being requested by the Attorney General’s Office.

Seventy percent of the proposed budget ($27.2 million) is earmarked for the DCI and Law Enforcement Training. Another 30 percent ($11.6 million) is allocated for department attorneys, legal services and other programs.

The proposed budget would include 49 percent in state general funds, which is the same as last year; 37 percent in funds that come from fees and settlements, and 14 percent from federal government funds.

Final state budget decisions will be made later by the committee, then be subject to approval by the full Legislature and sent to the Governor.

The Attorney General budget slides can be found here: 

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