Citizen initiatives and referendums (or I&Rs) are ways for citizens to participate directly in the policymaking process. However, legislators are becoming concerned that special interest groups may manipulate the process of getting certain I&Rs on the ballot, leading to 90 bills introduced to change the I&R process in 2026. This has led to laws regarding signature removal requests in Utah, disclosures of whether a ballot measure originated by constituents or the legislature in South Dakota, and more. There have also been other concerns, related to allowing foreign nationals to fund ballot initiatives, changing voter thresholds, and requiring geographic requirements for initiatives to pass.
Read more about how states are revisiting the rules on I&Rs here.