Effort begins to force public vote on Senate Bill 201

March 27, 2024

PIERRE, S.D.–A South Dakota property rights group held a rally at the state capitol on Tuesday.

The effort spearheads the group’s work to initiate a referendum on Senate Bill 201.

The bill allows the Public Utilities Commission to override county setbacks on pipelines. It also pays counties and landowners for each foot of pipeline.

Opponents of the bill including Republican State Representative Tina Mulally  of Rapid City say they’re not against pipelines, but rather, they support local control.

Mulally told reporters, “Most of us believe the Legislature got it wrong, and this is the people’s way of being able to say, ‘You got it wrong. We don’t like this.’ Under God, the people rule, and we’re going to voice our opinion and say no to Senate Bill 201”.

Organizers need to collect more than 17,000 signatures to get the referendum on the ballot.

The deadline to submit those signatures is June 25.