The proposed bill aims to prohibit the use of paid petition circulators in South Dakota and introduces penalties for violations. It amends existing laws regarding the filing and circulation of petitions for initiated amendments and measures, as well as referred laws. Key amendments include the requirement for petition circulators to provide a handout containing the title and explanation of the measure, along with the name, phone number, and email address of each petition sponsor. Additionally, the bill specifies that no individual or organization may compensate others for circulating petitions, establishing such actions as a Class 5 felony.

The bill also clarifies definitions related to petition circulation, including the terms "petition sponsor" and "ballot measure." It maintains the existing requirements for filing petitions, such as including the full text of the measure, notarized affidavits from sponsors, and deadlines for signature collection. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance transparency in the petition process while eliminating financial incentives for circulators.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 02/05/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-1.3, 2-1-3.1