The bill amends existing laws regarding the requirements for petitions to initiate measures or constitutional amendments and to refer laws in South Dakota. Key changes include the requirement for petition sponsors to file petitions in both physical and electronic formats with the Secretary of State before circulation, and at least one year prior to the next general election. The petitions must include the full text of the proposed measure or amendment, a title and explanation prepared by the attorney general, a fiscal note if applicable, and a notarized affidavit from each petition sponsor. Additionally, the title must be printed on both sides of the petition sheet, with specific font size requirements.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that petitions for initiated amendments or measures must be filed with the Secretary of State by the first Tuesday in May of the election year, along with a sworn affidavit confirming the validity of the signatures collected. For petitions to refer a law, signatures must be submitted within ninety days after the adjournment of the Legislature that passed the law. The bill also mandates that circulators provide a handout to individuals signing the petition, detailing the title, explanation, and contact information of the sponsors, as well as whether the circulator is a volunteer or paid. The Secretary of State is tasked with approving the circulator handouts for both initiated measures and referred laws.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/23/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-3.1
Senate State Affairs Engrossed, 02/10/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-3.1