South Dakota ballot questions

Who benefits or is affected

The amendment changes the state constitutional obligation and coverage protection for Medicaid-expansion enrollees if the specified federal-funding trigger occurs. No insurer, hospital or company is named for an award.

Costs and tradeoffs

The effect depends on a future federal funding change and subsequent state choices; the pamphlet does not establish a fixed household tax saving. Supporters’ $36 million estimate for a ten-percentage-point shift is an advocacy calculation, not a guaranteed saving. Losing federally funded coverage could also shift costs to patients, providers and other programs.

The trigger removes the constitutional expansion guarantee if the federal share drops below 90%.

Continued coverage after a trigger cannot be promised from this amendment.

Who benefits or is affected

Supporters seek a stronger textual barrier to any future change in who may vote. There is no financial beneficiary or grant recipient. Eligible citizens do not receive a new payment or tax reduction.

Costs and tradeoffs

No tax, bond or appropriation is created. The reviewed official materials do not quantify an administrative cost. Separate laws and procedures for proving or challenging citizenship must not be attributed entirely to this one-sentence constitutional change.

Citizenship is already required; the new text expressly adds noncitizenship as a disqualification.

Separate documentary-proof laws must not be described as provisions of this amendment.

Who benefits or is affected

The state General Fund receives the portion of trust earnings determined by the Legislature. No investment manager, claimant or company is named for a new funding award.

Costs and tradeoffs

There is no new tax or bond. Investment returns are uncertain, and preserving money in a trust can limit cash available for current spending. The official explanation does not provide a guaranteed annual return, household saving or fixed per-voter cost. Campaign comparisons with historical trust-fund returns are not promises of future performance.

The Legislature determines distributions from trust earnings under the growth requirement.

The trust structure would be constitutional, and future investment returns remain unknown.

Who benefits or is affected

Those favoring the constitution as it stands gain more protection from change, while a minority of more than 40% can block proposals. The same hurdle applies whether the proposed policy is liberal or conservative. No company, contractor or individual receives money.

Costs and tradeoffs

No tax, borrowing or new program is authorized. The reviewed official material does not provide a quantified fiscal effect or personal cost. Any policy-specific consequences depend on future amendments that pass or fail.

A constitutional proposal with majority support below 60% would fail.

The change does not apply that threshold to every statute or candidate election.