The proposed bill aims to prohibit the use of paid petition circulators in South Dakota and introduces penalties for violations. Key amendments to existing law include the requirement for petition circulators to provide a handout to each signer that includes the title and explanation of the initiated amendment or measure, any fiscal notes, and the contact information of each petition sponsor. Notably, the bill removes the requirement for circulators to disclose whether they are paid or volunteer circulators, as well as the amount paid to any paid circulators. Additionally, a new section is added that explicitly states that no individual or organization may compensate anyone for circulating a petition, with any violations resulting in the petition being deemed void ab initio.

The bill also clarifies the definitions of terms related to petition circulation, including "circulates," "petition circulator," and "petition sponsor." It maintains the existing requirements for filing petitions with the Secretary of State, including the need for notarized affidavits from petition sponsors and the submission deadlines for signatures. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance transparency in the petition process while eliminating the financial incentive for individuals to act as paid circulators.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 02/05/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-1.3, 2-1-3.1
House Judiciary Engrossed, 02/25/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-1.3, 2-1-3.1