Legislature working on bill for statewide vote on Medicaid work requirement

The South Dakota Legislature is considering a state constitutional amendment clarifying whether low-income people could work in order to receive Medicaid benefits.

The 2022 state constitutional amendment expanded Medicaid but did not include a work requirement for non-disabled people.

Republican Rep. Tony Venhuizen sponsored the resolution, SJR501, arguing that it would give South Dakota the flexibility to implement a work requirement in the future.

Opponents argue voters were aware of the details of the Medicaid expansion when they passed it in 2022.

The resolution passed the Senate State Affairs Committee on a 7-1 vote and now moves to the Senate floor.

If approved by the legislature, the resolution would put the issue on the 2024 ballot for voters to decide.

January 25, 2024