South Dakotan’s For Better Marijuana Laws posted this today about a bill that would get rid of paid petition circulators:
Yesterday, Representatives Perry, Krohmer, Moore, and Pinnow and Senators Beal, Mehlhaff, and Novstrup introduced House Bill 1114. If passed, it would prohibit the use of paid petition circulators to collect signatures for a statewide ballot measure.
House Bill 1114 is a clear attack on South Dakota’s ballot initiative process – a process that gives South Dakotans power to make change in our state. Currently, ballot initiatives in South Dakota make it on the ballot by a combination of volunteer circulators and paid circulators – but, they are heavily reliant on paid circulators. House Bill 1114 aims to prohibit the use of paid circulators to collect signatures for a state-wide ballot initiative. If House Bill 1114 passes, it would be nearly impossible for any future initiative to qualify for the ballot and South Dakota’s ballot initiative process could cease to exist.
This bill is not scheduled for a hearing yet, but it is never too early to make noise and let our voices be heard. Legislators are trying to take our power away and we can not let them. Learn how to email and call your State Representatives and State Senator by visiting sdbml.org/takeaction2024. Urge them to vote NO on HB 1114.
What’s funny is that Travis Ismay/Concerned Citizens of South Dakota don’t care either way because they’re still truckin’ along gathering signatures and have yet to have ANY PAID petition circulators.
It’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds!!