The bill amends South Dakota's laws regarding the filing deadlines for petitions to initiate constitutional amendments and measures. Specifically, it stipulates that petitions must be filed with the Secretary of State, including an electronic copy, at least one year before the next general election. The filing must include the full text of the proposed amendment or measure in fourteen-point font, the date of the election, a title and explanation prepared by the attorney general, a notarized affidavit from each petition sponsor, and a statement of organization. Additionally, each petition circulator is required to provide a handout to signers that includes essential information about the petition and the circulator's status (volunteer or paid).

Furthermore, the bill establishes that no signatures may be collected more than twenty-four months prior to the designated general election, and it mandates that the petition signatures be submitted to the Secretary of State by the first Tuesday in February of the election year for the petition to qualify for voter submission. A sworn affidavit, signed by at least two-thirds of the petition sponsors, must also be filed, confirming the completeness and sufficiency of the petition documents. The State Board of Elections is tasked with prescribing the form of the affidavit and other petition requirements not explicitly detailed in the bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/30/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2
Enrolled, 03/11/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2