South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has announced plans to pursue deregulation of firearm suppressors, also known as silencers, at the state level in 2026. The announcement follows federal changes made earlier this year that removed certain restrictions on suppressors.
According to dakotabroadcasting.com, “After congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill earlier this year, silencers or suppressors were deregulated on a federal level. Governor Rhoden says he plans to bring legislation to deregulate these firearm accessories on the state level …”
On December 8, State Senator Casey Crabtree revealed he would introduce a bill aimed at removing state-level regulations on suppressors. Shortly after Crabtree’s announcement, Governor Rhoden expressed his support for the initiative. Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central—a Sioux Falls-based company—also voiced approval for the proposed changes.
From dakotawarcollege.com: “Silencer Central is proud to support South Dakota’s proactive deregulation of suppressors as ‘controlled weapons,’ and we hope the federal government will quickly follow our home state’s pro-gun, pro-freedom initiative,” said Brandon Maddox, founder and CEO of the Sioux Falls-based suppressor retailer. “Earlier this year, we won a huge national victory as the One Big Beautiful Bill removed the $200 stamp fee on suppressors and other common firearms. Now, Senator Crabtree’s bill carries that momentum forward for South Dakota.”
Senator Crabtree holds a leadership position as majority whip in the South Dakota Senate and is currently running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. His legislative proposals have historically seen success due to strong Republican majorities in both chambers; there are currently three Democrats and 32 Republicans in the Senate and six Democrats with 64 Republicans in the House.
The legislative session begins January 13, 2026. At present no bill has been filed since lawmakers are not yet in session.
Under current law (South Dakota CHAPTER 37-35), silencers manufactured from basic materials within South Dakota are not subject to federal regulation if they remain inside state borders. State law (22-14-6) prohibits possession of controlled weapons but allows exceptions for those with valid licenses or proper registration. The definition of controlled weapons under section 22-1-2(8) includes silencers along with machine guns and short shotguns.
One possible approach to deregulation could involve amending section 22-1-2(8) by removing “silencer” from its list of controlled weapons; if adopted, silencers would no longer be classified as such under state law.
Further details about potential legislation are expected when lawmakers convene next month.
