This bill amends the existing laws regarding the filing deadlines for petitions to initiate constitutional amendments and measures in South Dakota. 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 bill outlines the requirements for the petition filing, which include the full text of the amendment or measure in fourteen-point font, the date of the upcoming general 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 must 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. The State Board of Elections is tasked with prescribing the form of the affidavit and other petition requirements not explicitly detailed in the bill. Overall, the amendments aim to streamline the petition process while ensuring transparency and compliance with the established guidelines.

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