A bill banning entities from six foreign‑adversary nations from owning electrical infrastructure in South Dakota advanced Thursday after winning unanimous approval in the Senate Commerce and Energy Committee.
HB 1049, already passed by the House, mirrors an earlier state law restricting agricultural land ownership by the same countries: China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. The measure now heads to the Senate consent calendar.
Public Utilities Commission chair Chris Nelson said the bill responds to growing citizen concern and is meant to prevent future vulnerabilities, even though no prohibited ownership currently exists.
The bill requires any prohibited ownership interest to be divested, though Nelson called such a scenario unlikely because the law would block purchases upfront.
Sen. Liz Larson asked whether the restrictions would affect dual citizens, but Nelson said U.S. citizens would not be barred.
The committee approved the bill 6–0, with three members excused.
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