SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- A federal judge has struck down a South Dakota law that required a nine month deadline to file petition signatures for proposed laws and constitutional amendments.

Dakotans for Health co-founder Rick Weiland filed the lawsuit in federal court against South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson in April, after the law's February deadline passed.

The law was passed in the 2025 legislative session and signed into law by Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden.

The state argued the nine-month deadline was necessary to give a citizen a right to challenge a petition in court. They also argued it's a legitimate state interest so voters know what initiated measures are on the actual ballot prior to the election, given there would be time to resolve challenges to petitions.

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