A bill changing the deadline for petition filing to initiate a measure or constitutional amendment is advancing out of committee.
The bill changes the current May deadline up earlier to February.
Dell Rapids Rep. Jon Hansen is the prime sponsor of the bill. He’s also chair of Life Defense Fund, an anti-abortion group that actively opposed certain ballot questions in the past.
He said when fighting Amendment G this election, questions about the timeline came up.
“We couldn’t litigate that case and conclude the case before the general election. Now, you’ve got an instance where the legitimacy of these petitions are still being litigated even after the general election has occurred. And I just think that’s a terrible way of going about it,” Hansen said.
Zebediah Johnson is with the Voter Defense Association of South Dakota. He said the bill is unnecessary.
“I think South Dakota’s Initiative process works well and is in line with Initiative policies around the country. We would view this change as a solution largely without a problem to solve,” Johnson said.
Opponents also said the deadline change would make it harder for petitioners to gather all the necessary signatures required under state law.
HB 1184 next heads to the House floor.
