Did Missouri approve ballot wording on legislative changes, special elections, and majority votes for initiatives?

Plain-English summary

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey approved the legal content and form of the proposed summary statement for Jamie Howard's initiative petition 2026-048. The statement described requiring legislative changes to voter-approved initiatives to be referred to voters when supported by at least 80% of each legislative chamber and limiting legislative action affecting the initiative and referendum process.

It also described placing statewide measures on general-election ballots unless the governor and a legislative supermajority authorized a special election, directing courts to revise misleading ballot titles, and specifying that a simple statewide majority would pass a citizen-initiated measure. The opinion did not endorse the petition.

What this means for you

Missouri voters and initiative proponents

The reviewed statement described voter referral for legislative changes and a simple statewide majority as sufficient to pass a citizen-initiated measure.

State legislators and election officials

The statement described an 80% threshold in each chamber for referring legislative changes to voters and general-election placement unless the governor and a legislative supermajority authorized a special election.

Courts and election lawyers

The statement described directing courts to revise ballot titles determined to be misleading.

Common questions

Q: What legislative threshold did the statement identify?
A: At least 80% of each legislative chamber to support referring a legislative change to voters.

Q: When would statewide measures appear on the ballot?
A: At general elections unless the governor and a legislative supermajority authorized a special election.

Q: What did the statement say about misleading ballot titles?
A: It described directing courts to revise them.

Q: What vote would pass a citizen-initiated measure?
A: A simple statewide majority.

Background and statutory framework

The Missouri Secretary of State requested review on June 20, 2025. The attorney general reviewed the proposed summary statement under § 116.334, RSMo and approved it on June 30, 2025.

The proposal was identified as Jamie Howard's petition 2026-048. The opinion reproduced the statement's five provisions concerning legislative changes, election timing, ballot titles, and majority voting.

Citations and references

Statute: § 116.334, RSMo.

Source

• Landing page: https://ago.mo.gov/other-resources/ag-opinions/
• Original PDF: https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/116-2025.pdf

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
ANDREW BAILEY

June 30, 2025

OPINION LETTER NO. 116-2025

The Honorable Denny Hoskins
Missouri Secretary of State
James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center
600 West Main Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Secretary Hoskins:

This opinion letter responds to your request dated June 20, 2025 for our review under § 116.334, RSMo of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Jamie Howard, 2026-048. The proposed summary statement is as follows:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

• require that any legislative change to a voter-approved initiative be referred to voters if supported by at least eighty percent of each legislative chamber;

• limit the legislature’s ability to enact laws or amendments affecting the initiative and referendum process;

• require statewide measures to appear on general election ballots unless a special election is authorized by the governor and a supermajority of the legislature;

• direct courts to revise ballot titles determined to be misleading; and

• specify that a simple statewide majority of votes is sufficient to pass a citizen-initiated measure?

Pursuant to § 116.334, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed statement. Because our review of the statement is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the petition, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents.

Very truly yours,

ANDREW BAILEY
Attorney General

OP-2025-127

Supreme Court Building
207 W. High Street
P.O. Box 899
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: (573) 751-3321
Fax: (573) 751-0774
www.ago.mo.gov