Pipeline opponents claim victory as South Dakota voters reject Referred Law 21

Supporters say election result means pipeline can get built without any landowner protections

The 2024 South Dakota Legislature got its hand slapped in Tuesday’s election when voters rejected Referred Law 21.

A majority of South Dakota voters have said no to a lawmaker-backed measure dubbed the “Landowner Bill of Rights” that would have created statewide uniformity around carbon pipeline regulations, marking yet another blow to a years-long effort by Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions to get a transmission line built through the Mount Rushmore State.

“The people have spoken. This is a mandate from the voters that South Dakota is not for sale,” said Rep. Karla Lems, the Canton Republican who helped refer the law to a public vote after it narrowly cleared the state Legislature in March. “They understand that our property rights are sacred and the legislature got it wrong. Now we move forward to enact much needed protections.”