A health care advocacy network is filing a legal challenge against the state to prevent a new law from going into effect.
Dakotans for Health is suing to prevent moving the filing deadline to submit signatures for initiated ballot questions from May to February.
In a lawsuit announcement, the group said the change creates a shortened timeline, subjecting circulators to harsher weather conditions and decreased voter interest. They say that infringes on South Dakotans’ right to petition the government.
Gov. Larry Rhoden signed the bill into law on March 25.
Republican Speaker of the House Jon Hansen brought the proposal. He’s co-chair of Life Defense Fund, which successfully beat back an abortion rights ballot question in November.
That constitutional amendment was brought by Dakotans For Health.
Earlier this week, state lawmakers failed to override a Gov. Rhoden veto of another bill aimed at ballot questions. It would have required circulators get a percentage of its signatures from each of the state’s thirty-five senate districts.
