House restores longer timeline for ballot‑initiative petition deadlines, citing litigation risk
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Summary
House Bill 11‑84 passed after the sponsor argued the current six‑month deadline for filing petitions to initiate measures is too short to resolve signature challenges; the bill responds to a federal appeals court case and seeks a longer period for litigation to play out before elections.
House Bill 11‑84 passed the South Dakota House on Feb. 10 after Representative John Hansen (speaker referenced earlier)- (note: prime sponsor on the floor presented by Representative Hansen in transcript as 'Representative Hansen') framed the bill as a response to litigation over petition deadlines.
Representative Hansen said the state previously used a one‑year deadline to file initiative petitions; litigation from the Eighth Circuit and district courts resulted in the current six‑month deadline. Hansen told members he had personally been involved in litigation demonstrating that six months is not enough time to resolve signature‑validity challenges between petition submission and a general election. He argued the legislature should adopt a deadline that allows courts adequate time to resolve disputes so ballot access and challenges are settled before voters go to the polls.
Hansen cited other states’ differing deadlines and said the goal is to secure certainty for voters and litigants before election day. He asked for members’ support. The clerk later announced the recorded vote as ayes 59, nays 9, excused 1; the House declared House Bill 11‑84 passed.
The transcript excerpt includes detailed sponsor remarks about the court cases and the policy reasons for a longer deadline; it does not record the precise deadline text the bill sets or the Senate’s subsequent actions.