The proposed bill, H. 3491, seeks to amend Article XVII of the South Carolina Constitution by adding Section 16, which establishes a procedure for the enactment or repeal of laws and constitutional amendments through initiative petitions and referendums. This amendment aims to empower the people of South Carolina to petition their government for redress of grievances, allowing them to propose and vote on legislative measures directly. The bill outlines the process for submitting an initiative petition, including requirements for signatures, the role of the State Election Commission, and the necessary reviews by the Attorney General and Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. It also specifies that the Governor's veto power does not apply to measures enacted through this process.

Additionally, the bill sets forth various stipulations regarding the initiative process, such as the need for a minimum number of signatures from qualified electors, geographic distribution of signatures, and the timeline for submitting petitions. It also clarifies that certain types of laws, such as those related to the judiciary or public office appointments, cannot be enacted through this initiative process. The amendment would be presented to voters in the next general election, allowing them to decide whether to adopt the proposed changes to the constitutional amendment process.