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Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next primary election a new section to Article XI of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, relating to a three-fifths vote requirement for certain initiated or Legislature-proposed constitutional amendments and initiated or Legislature-referred measures.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment for South Dakota voters to decide, which would require a three-fifths majority (instead of a simple majority) to pass certain constitutional amendments and ballot measures that are either initiated by citizens or proposed by the Legislature. If approved by voters, this higher threshold would make it harder to change the state constitution or pass measures through the ballot initiative process.

revise certain requirements regarding the review of initiated amendments to the Constitution and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota now requires people proposing constitutional amendments to submit their proposals to the Legislative Research Council at least six months before collecting signatures, so the council can review them for legal compliance and potential fiscal impacts. The council director must provide written feedback within 15 business days to help sponsors fix any problems with their proposed amendment before they start gathering signatures.