The bill amends existing provisions regarding the preparation of fiscal notes for ballot questions in South Dakota. It specifies that if the director of the Legislative Research Council determines that an initiated measure or amendment to the South Dakota Constitution may impact the revenues, expenditures, or fiscal liability of the state or any political subdivision, the director must notify the petition sponsor and prepare a fiscal note. This fiscal note must include an estimate of the impact for at least the first full fiscal year after the measure takes effect and must also consider any effects on prison or county jail populations. Additionally, the bill introduces a requirement for an updated fiscal note if the estimated impact changes due to state budget alterations or other factors, to be prepared no earlier than July first and no later than August first in the election year.

Furthermore, the bill revises the attorney general's responsibilities in preparing statements for proposed amendments and referred laws. The attorney general must provide a title, a clear explanation of the measure's purpose and legal consequences, and a recitation for voting instructions. The explanation is limited to 200 words, and the title, explanation, fiscal note, and recitation must be printed on the ballot in a specified order. The bill also repeals a previous section that outlined procedures for measures submitted before July 1, 2017, thereby streamlining the process for current and future ballot measures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/16/2025: 2-9-30, 12-13-9, 12-13-25.1, 2-9-30.1