South Dakota Ballot: Data Center Water Rules and Medicaid Funding Face Voter Decision
Four constitutional amendments and a contested Senate seat put data center environmental standards and state health care funding on the Nov. 3 ballot.
By Tomas Gonzalez ·
South Dakota voters face four constitutional amendments and a competitive Senate race in the Nov. 3 election, with data center regulations and Medicaid funding at the center of the debate. The Nov. 3 vote will determine whether residents support a 60 percent approval threshold for future constitutional changes and whether expanded Medicaid remains in effect if federal funding drops. These measures were sent to the ballot by the state Legislature.
In Rapid City, Michael Calabrese, the Democratic candidate for District 34, challenged incumbent Republican Sen. Taffy Howard during a preview segment on Dakota Town Hall. Calabrese, who co-owns Black Hills Vinyl with his wife, stated that data centers would be a top priority if elected. He argued that local restrictions are insufficient for projects located outside city limits that impact shared regional resources.
Calabrese called for statewide rules covering water use, environmental review, and financial protections for communities. He expressed concern that large-scale projects may not fit the area due to water constraints, while distinguishing those developments from smaller facilities and server rooms. Other participants in the discussion pointed to closed-loop cooling and smaller designs as reasons to evaluate projects individually. Calabrese countered that requirements for such protections should be established before development proceeds.
The panel discussion also examined Amendment L, which would require 60 percent voter approval for future constitutional amendments. Nathan Sanderson of the South Dakota Retailers Association supported the higher threshold. He argued that the constitution should establish the framework of government while detailed policy belongs in state law. Patrick Lalley of Sioux Falls Live challenged the idea without changes to the initiative process. He argued that legislative revisions to voter-approved measures help explain why supporters seek constitutional protection for their proposals.
Seth Tupper of South Dakota Searchlight pointed to Medicaid expansion as an example of this dynamic. He said supporters turned to a constitutional amendment after lawmakers declined to adopt the policy. The exchange centered on whether constitutional amendments are being used too often for policy or whether voters turn to them because other routes have failed. Amendment I prompted a separate debate about Medicaid expansion and federal funding. The proposal would condition the constitutional requirement for expanded Medicaid on the federal government's level of support.
Sanderson framed the Amendment I issue as a question of how much additional expense South Dakota should bear if federal funding drops. Other participants emphasized health care affordability and the consequences for residents who depend on coverage. The panel also reviewed Amendment J, which concerns U.S. citizenship as a voting qualification, and Amendment K, which would establish a trust fund for unclaimed property. All four constitutional proposals were referred to voters by the Legislature.
The full Oct. 30 episode is available through Dakota Town Hall. Official ballot explanations and voter information are available from the South Dakota secretary of state at sdsos.gov.
