FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 12, 2019

CONTACT: Tim Bormann (605) 773-3215

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg announced today that he has filed Attorney General explanations for two proposed constitutional amendments with the Secretary of State.  The explanations were prepared after the sponsor submitted modified versions of similar amendments that were filed last year.  

Each Attorney General explanation will appear on the petition that will be circulated by the amendment’s sponsor.  The sponsor will need to obtain, for each proposal, 33,921 valid signatures, as determined by the Secretary of State, to place the amendment on the ballot for the November 2020 general election.

The proposed amendments are entitled:

• An amendment to the South Dakota Constitution allowing people to buy, sell, or rent any property or service.

• An amendment to the South Dakota Constitution requiring physical or monetary damage in order for conduct to be considered a violation of law.

Under South Dakota law, the Attorney General is responsible for preparing explanations for proposed initiated measures, referred laws, and state constitutional amendments.  The Attorney General explanation is not a statement either for or against the proposed amendment.

You can read the explanations: 

  An amendment to the South Dakota Constitution allowing people to buy, sell, or rent any property or service.

And

An amendment to the South Dakota Constitution requiring physical or monetary damage in order for conduct to be considered a violation of law.

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