Senate Endorses Constitutional Amendment On Taxes

The South Dakota Senate has endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds vote to pass any ballot measure imposing a new tax or increasing an existing one.

A two-thirds vote is already required in the Legislature to pass a new tax or increase the rate of an existing tax. But ballot measures imposing or increasing a tax can now be passed with only a simple majority in a statewide vote.

The proposed amendment would require a two-thirds vote on any ballot issue that creates or increases a tax.

The proposed amendment also would clarify that if a tax is expiring, a two-thirds vote would be needed to extend it.

If the House endorses the proposal, voters in 2014 would decide whether to change the South Dakota Constitution.