This bill amends existing South Dakota law to stipulate that only individuals who are registered voters in the state may serve as petition sponsors for initiated amendments, initiated measures, or petitions to refer laws. Specifically, the bill modifies sections 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, and 2-1-3.1 to include the requirement that petition sponsors must be registered voters, as outlined in chapter 12-4. This change aims to ensure that those sponsoring petitions are actively participating in the electoral process and have a vested interest in the outcomes of the measures they are promoting.

In addition to the new voter registration requirement, the bill retains existing provisions regarding the filing and circulation of petitions. These include requirements for the content of petitions, the need for notarized affidavits from petition sponsors, and the approval of circulator handouts by the secretary of state. The bill also maintains deadlines for filing petitions and obtaining signatures, ensuring that the process for initiating amendments and measures remains structured and transparent.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/27/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-3.1
Enrolled, 03/06/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-3.1