This bill amends existing laws regarding the requirements for petitions to initiate measures or constitutional amendments and to refer laws in South Dakota. It mandates that petition sponsors must file their petitions in both physical and electronic formats with the Secretary of State at least one year before the next general election. The petitions must include specific elements such as the full text of the proposed measure or amendment, the date of the election, a title and explanation prepared by the attorney general, a fiscal note if applicable, and a notarized affidavit signed by each petition sponsor. Additionally, the bill specifies that the title must be printed on both sides of the petition sheet, with the back side in at least sixteen-point font.

Furthermore, the bill requires petition circulators to provide a handout to individuals signing the petition, which includes essential information about the measure or amendment, the sponsors' contact details, and whether the circulator is a volunteer or paid. The Secretary of State must approve these handouts before circulation. The bill also establishes deadlines for filing signatures and includes provisions for the State Board of Elections to prescribe the form and size of the petitions. Overall, the amendments aim to enhance transparency and organization in the petition process 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
House State Affairs Engrossed, 03/03/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-3.1
Conference Committee Engrossed, 03/12/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-3.1
Enrolled, 03/13/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-3.1