What fiscal note summary did the Missouri Attorney General approve for Winston Apple’s petition 20-093?

Plain-English summary

On July 26, 2019, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt approved the legal content and form of a fiscal note summary for Winston Apple’s initiative petition (20-093). The summary says: "State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings from this proposal." The letter does not explain that estimate or describe the petition’s proposed legal changes. Official opinion.

The AG expressly says its mandated review should not be construed as endorsement of the petition or its proponents’ objectives.

What this means for you

Fiscal researchers and petition readers. This letter reports a no-cost, no-savings estimate from state and local entities. It provides no causal explanation or account of later ballot status.

Election officials. The AG approved the summary’s legal content and form under § 116.175.4, RSMo. The letter does not assess the petition’s policy merits.

Common questions

What fiscal impact did the summary estimate?

No costs or savings for state and local governmental entities.

Why did it estimate no costs or savings?

The letter gives no reason. It quotes the estimate and approves the summary’s legal content and form.

Did the AG endorse the petition?

No. The letter expressly disclaims endorsement and any view on the proponents’ objectives.

Background and statutory framework

The State Auditor submitted a fiscal note and summary under § 116.175, RSMo. The AG approved the summary’s legal content and form under § 116.175.4, RSMo. Read the official letter.

Citations

• § 116.175, RSMo (fiscal note submission).
• § 116.175.4, RSMo (AG review).

Source

• Landing page: https://ago.mo.gov/other-resources/ag-opinions/
• Original PDF: https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/attachments/139-2019.pdf

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
ERIC SCHMITT
July 26, 2019
OPINION LETTER NO. 139-2019
The Honorable Nicole Galloway
Missouri State Auditor
State Capitol, Room 121
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Dear Auditor Galloway:
This office received your letter of July 17, 2019, submitting a fiscal note and fiscal note summary prepared under § 116.175, RSMo, for an initiative petition submitted by Winston Apple (20·093). The fiscal note summary that you submitted is as follows: State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings from this proposal. Under § 116.175.4, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the fiscal note summary. Because our review of the fiscal note summary is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the initiative petition or as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents. Very truly yours,

ERIC S. SCHMITT
Attorney General

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

OP-2019-0164