For the purposes of § 15-6-72.1, the term, local government body, shall mean:
Rule 72.2.Local government body — Defined.
Part IX: Expedited Civil Actions · Last amended 2021 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceRule 15-6-72.2 defines local government body for purposes of the intergovernmental dispute rule, covering counties, municipalities, townships, unincorporated territory, school districts, publicly organized service providers such as fire and police, and a long list of special-purpose districts.
Full Text of Rule 15-6-72.2
(1) Any county, municipality, township, or unincorporated territory;
(2) Any school district;
(3) Any organization that offers a public service, organized or authorized by a county, municipality, or township, including law enforcement, fire protection services, or emergency medical services; and
(4) Any special district including ambulance districts under chapter 34-11A, conservation districts under chapter 38-8, consumer power districts under chapters 49-35 through 49-40, drainage basis utility districts under chapter 46A-10B, improvement districts under chapter 7-25A, irrigation districts under chapters 46A-4 through 46A-7, predator control districts under chapter 40-37, public hospital districts under chapter 34-10, regional railroad authorities under chapter 49-17A, regional recycling and waste management districts under chapter 34A-16, road districts under chapter 31-12A, rural fire protection districts under chapter 34-31A, sanitary districts under chapter 34A-5, water development districts under chapters 46A-3A through 46A-3E, water project districts under chapter 46A-18, water user districts under chapter 46A-9, or watershed districts under chapter 46A-14.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 15-6-72.2 exists to pin down exactly who Rule 15-6-72.1 reaches. The definition applies for the purposes of that one rule, and it covers four categories of bodies.
The first category includes any county, municipality, township, or unincorporated territory. The second covers any school district. The third reaches any organization offering a public service that a county, municipality, or township organized or authorized, including law enforcement, fire protection, or emergency medical services.
The fourth category is the broadest: any special district, and the rule lists many by name, including ambulance districts, conservation districts, consumer power districts, drainage basin utility districts, improvement districts, irrigation districts, predator control districts, public hospital districts, regional railroad authorities, regional recycling and waste management districts, road districts, rural fire protection districts, sanitary districts, water development districts, water project districts, water user districts, and watershed districts. Because this list runs across so many kinds of special-purpose bodies, a wide range of public entities can end up eligible for the dispute-resolution tools Rule 15-6-72.1 provides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a school district count as a local government body under this rule?
Yes. Rule 15-6-72.2 lists any school district as one of the categories covered.
Are fire protection districts and ambulance districts covered by this definition?
Yes. Rule 15-6-72.2 includes ambulance districts and rural fire protection districts among the special districts listed in its fourth category.
Is a private organization that provides emergency services covered by this definition?
Only if a county, municipality, or township organized or authorized it. Rule 15-6-72.2 requires that public organizational link for an organization offering a public service to qualify.
Does this definition apply throughout the South Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure, or just for one rule?
Just for one rule. Rule 15-6-72.2 states its definition applies for the purposes of Rule 15-6-72.1 specifically.
What kinds of special districts besides fire and ambulance districts does this rule cover?
Rule 15-6-72.2 also lists conservation districts, consumer power districts, drainage basin utility districts, improvement districts, irrigation districts, predator control districts, public hospital districts, regional railroad authorities, regional recycling and waste management districts, road districts, sanitary districts, water development districts, water project districts, water user districts, and watershed districts.
Amendment History
—2021 ch 85, § 2, effective July 1, 2021.
Source & verification. Rule text and History are
reproduced verbatim from the South Dakota Codified Laws, published by the
South Dakota Legislative Research Council. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
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