Signed by Governor Kristi Noem

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that repeals certain regulations surrounding the petition circulation process.

Highlights:

• Requires paid circulators to submit an application to the secretary of state, obtain a circulator identification number, and be included in a directory of registered paid circulators prior to circulating any petition for a ballot measure (Sec. 3). 

• Specifies that any paid circulator who fails to register, registers incompletely, or provides false information while registering will not be able to count any signatures collected (Sec. 3). 

• Requires the secretary of state to maintain an updated directory of all paid circulators (Sec. 4). 

• Requires each paid circulator to pay a registration fee of $20 for each ballot question committee they represent (Sec. 5).

• Requires each paid circulator to wear the badge issued to them by the state which will read “paid petition circulator” (Sec. 7). 

• Classifies a violation of the above highlight as a class two misdemeanor (Sec. 7). 

• Requires petitions for an initiated amendment to the Constitution to be filed with the secretary of state prior to circulation and to include (Sec. 9): 

• The full text of the initiated amendment;

• The date of the general election at which the initiated amendment will be submitted;

• The title and explanation prepared by the attorney general;

• A notarized affidavit listing the names and addresses of the petition sponsors; and

• A statement of the organization. 

• Requires petitions for an initiated measure to be filed with the secretary of state prior to circulation and to include (Sec 11): 

• The full text of the initiated measure;

• The date of the general election at which the initiated measure will be submitted;

• The title and explanation prepared by the attorney general;

• A notarized affidavit listing the names and addresses of the petition sponsors; and

• A statement of the organization. 

• Requires petitions for a referred law to be filed with the secretary of state prior to circulation and to include (Sec 13): 

• The title of the referred law;

• The effective date of the law;

• The date of the general election at which the law will be submitted;

• A notarized affidavit listing the names and addresses of the petition sponsors; and

• A statement of the organization.

Full Bill Text