Rhoden-supported effort to lower barriers on local government referrals fails

Rep. Aaron Aylward had sought to decrease the number of signatures needed to refer a decision to the ballot box

PIERRE – A measure to reduce the number of voters needed to refer a local government decision failed Tuesday after the South Dakota House rejected amendments that had been placed in the bill by the Senate.

The bill was one of five supported by Gov. Larry Rhoden in his bid to enact homeowner property tax relief.

Originally, House Bill 1323 would have extended the window by which voters can collect signatures to refer a local government decision. The law allows a referral to take place now if enough signatures can be collected from 5 percent of registered voters within 20 days.