PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota lawmakers dismissed a proposal that the state constitution ban ballot measures from being reconsidered if they failed in the previous election.
The Republican-controlled House State Affairs Committee rejected the proposed constitutional amendment Friday, with lawmakers saying it relied on vague language and unwieldy implementation.
Republican Rep. Fred Deutsch brought the proposal after voters rejected a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana last year, but legalization advocates say they plan to put the proposal back on ballots in the next election.
One Republican criticized the proposed amendment’s interference with citizens’ ability to directly change laws in South Dakota.
It was the first state to enshrine the ballot measure process.
