South Dakota voters will face four constitutional amendments on the November ballot, and the latest episode of the Dakota Town Hall podcast brought together lawmakers and political observers to break down what the measures could mean for the state.

Host Murdoc was joined by District 8 Sen. Casey Crabtree, South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations President Tim Rave and South Dakota Searchlight Editor-in-Chief Seth Tupper. Much of the discussion centered on Amendment I, which deals with the future of Medicaid expansion if the federal government’s share of funding drops below 90%.

Rave, whose organization represents nonprofit hospitals in South Dakota, argued against the amendment. He said Medicaid expansion has provided about $400 million annually in coverage for services that previously may have gone unpaid. He also said he reads the amendment as ending the expansion if federal matching funds fall below the 90% threshold.

Crabtree supported the measure, describing it as protection for South Dakota taxpayers if the federal government reduces its contribution.

“This is an insurance policy for the taxpayer,” Crabtree said.

Tupper pointed to a potential source of voter confusion. He noted that lawmakers have often described the proposal as giving the state the option to reconsider Medicaid expansion, while the attorney general’s ballot language says the amendment “ends the expanded Medicaid coverage” if federal funding falls below 90%. Crabtree said the measure would end the constitutional requirement, leaving lawmakers able to continue the program through other means.

The episode also covered Amendment L, which would require future constitutional amendments to receive 60% voter approval, along with Amendments J and K. The panel discussed the challenge of getting voters engaged with ballot questions before Election Day.

Beyond the ballot, the group discussed questions surrounding South Dakota’s mail-in voting data and a state habitat license plate program that requires an additional step before money actually goes toward conservation. The episode concluded with reflections on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the importance of remembering the national unity that followed.