PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA)—South Dakota lawmakers are pushing to make changing the state’s constitution more difficult.
The House State Affairs Committee today (Friday) approved a measure that would require 60% of voters, instead of a simple majority, to pass any constitutional amendments.
Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, says out-of-state money is flooding into South Dakota to influence voters.
He cites recent examples where hundreds of thousands of dollars came from places like California and Illinois to support ballot measures.
“South Dakota has become a meeting point for out-of-state interests to take advantage of our simple majority rule,” Hughes said.
Opponents argue this change would make it too difficult for citizens to update their constitution.
Zebediah Johnson from the Voter Defense Association says it would give too much power to a minority of voters to block changes that most South Dakotans want.
Rural lawmakers like Rep. Spencer Gosch (gosh), R-Glenham, worry that growing cities could eventually overpower rural voices in state decisions without this protection.
The measure passed the committee on a partisan 11-2 vote.
HJR 5003 now heads to the full House for consideration.
If the legislature approves this change, voters will have the final say in the 2026 election.
