The following is from an article,’Senate panel supports making it harder to alter constitution‘, written by James Nord from the Associated Press. Take a look:

A measure that would ask voters to make it harder to change the South Dakota constitution passed its first legislative test Monday. The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 6-2, with only Republican support, to advance the proposal to the full chamber. GOP Sen. Jim Bolin, the resolution’s sponsor, said the measure is designed to add additional safeguards for the state constitution.

He said it’s is a “legitimate and desirable method of protecting our fundamental political document.” It would put a constitutional amendment before voters this year that would increase the majority vote threshold required for a constitutional change to at least 55 percent of the votes cast on an amendment. A task force on the ballot question process endorsed the plan last year.

Also, a great round up and play-by-play of the drama this week was put together by San Francisco Chronicle. Take a look at this excerpt:

Republican Sen. Jim Bolin, the resolution’s sponsor, says the measure would protect the state constitution. Rob Timm, president and CEO of the Chiesman Center for Democracy, says the proposal is a potential erosion of freedoms and a potential assault on direct democracy. Republicans have discussed changes to the ballot question system after the 2016 election season brought 10 questions and millions of dollars from out-of-state groups.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pduL3Yyx410