HB 1256 South Dakota House · 2025 Regular Session

require the inclusion of certain information on a candidate's nominating petition or on a ballot question petition.

HB 1256 requires candidates and ballot question proponents in South Dakota to include specific information on their nominating or petition documents. The bill mandates that these documents contain details such as the candidate's or measure's position on key issues, funding sources, and any relevant disclosures. This change directly affects political candidates and groups seeking to place measures on the ballot by standardizing the information voters receive during the petition process. The legislation aims to increase transparency in the petitioning phase of elections without altering the fundamental rules of candidacy or ballot access.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Signed Mar 31, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House State Affairs Engrossed Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 11, 2025
MODERATE
This bill amends three existing statutes to require additional information on nominating petitions and ballot question petitions in South Dakota. The changes mandate that petition signers provide their current voter registration address, county of registration, and signing date. These requirements apply to both candidate nominating petitions and ballot question petitions to improve transparency and verify voter eligibility.
Scope change
The bill expands requirements to apply to both candidate nominating petitions and ballot question petitions, with specific provisions for verifying voter registration information on both types of petitions.
REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for petition signers to provide their current voter registration address, county of registration, and date of signing on all initiative and ballot question petitions.

Added requirement that candidates must sign a formal declaration of candidacy that accompanies the nominating petition upon filing.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified signature validation rules to allow the Secretary of State to reject signatures where the provided address does not substantially match the voter's current registered address.

TIMELINE

Modified timing requirement for generating random sample validation sheets to occur within five days of completing petition signature examination.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2025 · House Feb 19, 2025

How they voted

2112
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 35
Mar 10, 2025
D Democratic3
2 Nay 1
66% Nay
R Republican32
21 Yea 10 Nay 1
65% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
9
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Mar 31, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 2025-03-31 H.J. 553
executive
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 522
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 524
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 21, NAYS 12 S.J. 494
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (21-12-2)
senate
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
State Affairs Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 1
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Introduced
First read in Senate and referred to S.J. 321
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 61, NAYS 9 H.J. 328
lower
Feb 19, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (60-9)
house
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
State Affairs Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 12, NAYS 1
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
State Affairs Motion to amend , Passed, Amendment 1256A
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to H.J. 213
lower
4 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors