South Dakota Legislation Threatens Residency for Full-Time RVers
This story is part of the February 9th, 2025 RV and Camping News Roundup.
A pair of bills moving through the South Dakota Legislature could impact full-time RVers who use the state as their legal domicile for voting and driver’s licenses.
According to a notice from Americas Mailbox, a company that provides mail forwarding and residency services, HB 1066 and HB 1208 seek to tighten residency requirements, making it harder for RVers to maintain legal South Dakota residency.
This isn’t the first time South Dakota has attempted to to limit the ability for Full-time RVers to reside in the state. South Dakota is a very popular state since you currently only have to stay one night in the state to claim residence. Plus, there is no income tax, and driver’s license renewals are 5 years apart. You can see why the state would appeal to full-time RVers.
The proposed bills would require residents to physically “live and usually sleep” at their address for at least 30 consecutive days in order to vote in the state—a requirement that full-time travelers cannot meet.
While these bills are aimed primarily at voting, America’s Mailbox says that the laws could affect South Dakota driver’s license renewals and the ability to make the state your domicile. Americas Mailbox is urging its customers to contact legislators and oppose the bills, arguing that they would effectively disenfranchise traveling South Dakota residents
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