HB 1169 South Dakota House · 2025 Regular Session

modify the signature requirement for a petition to initiate a constitutional amendment.

This bill modifies the signature requirement for petitions used to initiate constitutional amendments in South Dakota. It directly affects citizens who wish to propose changes to the state constitution by altering the number of valid signatures needed on these petitions. The key provision changes the threshold of voter signatures required to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot, making the process more or less accessible depending on the new numerical requirement. This change impacts the procedural steps for citizens seeking to propose constitutional changes but does not alter the content or approval process for amendments themselves.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Vetoed
Mar 2025
Introduced Feb 18, 2025 Vetoed Mar 31, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senate State Affairs Engrossed Enrolled · 7 edits · Mar 12, 2025
MODERATE
This bill modifies South Dakota's petition requirements for constitutional amendments, changing the signature threshold from a flat five percent of qualified electors to a district-based system requiring signatures from each senatorial district equal to at least five percent of the total votes cast for Governor in that district, while maintaining a statewide minimum of ten percent of total gubernatorial votes. The bill also adds new filing requirements, including physical and electronic submission to the Secretary of State, specific font and content standards, circulator handouts, and a 24-month circulation window.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of petition requirements by introducing district-based signature thresholds and adding new procedural requirements for petition filing and circulation.
REQUIREMENT

Changed the signature requirement for constitutional amendment petitions from a flat five percent of qualified electors to a district-based system requiring signatures from each senatorial district equal to at least five percent of the total votes cast for Governor in that district, with a statewide minimum of ten percent of total gubernatorial votes.

Added requirement that petition sponsors file petitions in both physical and electronic format with the Secretary of State at least one year before the next general election.

Added specific content requirements for petitions including fourteen-point font, designated election date, Attorney General prepared title and explanation, notarized affidavits from sponsors, and organization statement.

Added requirement that petition circulators provide handouts to signers containing the amendment text, fiscal notes, sponsor contact information, and circulator payment status.

Added requirement that each petition sheet indicate the senatorial district where signatures were collected and may only contain signatures from that district.

TIMELINE

Added a 24-month maximum circulation window before the designated general election and set a filing deadline of the first Tuesday in May of a general election year.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement for a sworn affidavit signed by at least two-thirds of petition sponsors stating the documents constitute the entire petition and contain sufficient signatures.

Floor votes · House Feb 13, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
21
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
2
Mar 31, 2025
Vetoed
Delivered veto sustained to the Secretary of State H.J. 556
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Vetoed
Veto override , Passed, YEAS 50, NAYS 18 H.J. 555
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Vetoed
Veto override , Passed, YEAS 16, NAYS 16 S.J. 540
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Vetoed
Vetoed by the Governor H.J. 553
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 528
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 539
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
House of Representatives Concurred in amendments , Passed, YEAS 63, NAYS 6 H.J. 518
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 19, NAYS 15 S.J. 485
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
State Affairs Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 1
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced
State Affairs Motion to amend , Passed, Amendment 1169C
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
First read in Senate and referred to S.J. 279
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 60, NAYS 9 H.J. 289
lower
Feb 13, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (59-9)
house
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Deferred to another day , Passed, H.J. 271
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
State Affairs Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 10, NAYS 1
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
State Affairs Motion to amend , Passed, Amendment 1169A
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to H.J. 171
lower
15 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors