Did Missouri approve the fiscal note summary for Jamie Howard's initiative petition 2026-015?

Plain-English summary

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey approved the legal content and form of the fiscal note summary for Jamie Howard's initiative petition 2026-015. The submitted summary estimated state costs of at least $31,000 in each odd-numbered state fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2027. It estimated no local government costs or savings.

The review under § 116.175.4, RSMo was limited. The opinion did not endorse the petition and did not examine whether the estimated fiscal impact was fair or sufficient.

What this means for you

Initiative petition proponents

The fiscal note summary for petition 2026-015 passed the attorney general's legal-content-and-form review. The opinion did not approve the petition's objectives.

State and local government officials

The submitted summary estimated recurring state costs in odd-numbered fiscal years beginning in 2027 and no local fiscal impact. The attorney general did not assess the estimate's fairness or sufficiency.

Election lawyers and ballot-measure researchers

Opinion 20-2025 documents the statutory review of the fiscal note summary, not an independent fiscal analysis by the attorney general.

Common questions

Q: What state cost did the summary estimate?
A: At least $31,000 in each odd-numbered state fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2027.

Q: Did it estimate any local government impact?
A: No. The summary estimated no local government costs or savings.

Q: Did the attorney general verify the fiscal estimate?
A: No. The opinion said the review did not examine the fairness or sufficiency of the estimated fiscal impact.

Background and statutory framework

The Missouri State Auditor submitted the fiscal note and fiscal note summary on January 15, 2025. They were prepared under § 116.175, RSMo for initiative petition 2026-015.

The attorney general issued the legal-content-and-form approval on January 27, 2025 under § 116.175.4, RSMo.

Citations and references

Statutes: § 116.175, RSMo; § 116.175.4, RSMo.

Source

• Landing page: https://ago.mo.gov/other-resources/ag-opinions/
• Original PDF: https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/20-2025.pdf

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
ANDREW BAILEY

January 27, 2025

OPINION LETTER NO. 20-2025

The Honorable Scott Fitzpatrick
Missouri State Auditor
State Capitol, Room 229
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Auditor Fitzpatrick:

This office received your letter of January 15, 2025, submitting a fiscal note and fiscal note summary prepared under § 116.175, RSMo, for an initiative petition submitted by Jamie Howard, 2026-015. The fiscal note summary that you submitted is as follows:

State governmental entities estimate costs of at least $31,000 each odd-numbered state fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2027. Local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

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. Furthermore, our review under § 116.175.4 does not examine the fairness or sufficiency of the estimated fiscal impact.

Very truly yours,

ANDREW BAILEY
Attorney General

OP-2025-020

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