What fiscal impact did Missouri approve for Richard von Glahn's initiative petition 2026-134?

Plain-English summary

Missouri Attorney General Catherine L. Hanaway approved the legal content and form of the fiscal note summary for Richard von Glahn's initiative petition 2026-134. The official summary stated: "State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings."

The review was limited. Under § 116.175.4, RSMo, the Attorney General did not examine the fairness or sufficiency of the estimated fiscal impact. The opinion also said the approval was not an endorsement of the petition or its proponents' objectives.

What this means for you

Initiative petition proponents

The fiscal note summary for petition 2026-134 passed the Attorney General's legal-content and form review. The opinion did not decide whether the underlying estimates were fair or sufficient.

Missouri State Auditor staff

The approved summary preserved the submitted conclusion that state and local governmental entities estimated no costs or savings.

State and local government researchers

Opinion 305-2025 records a no-cost, no-savings estimate for petition 2026-134. Its legal review did not validate the accuracy of that estimate.

Common questions

Q: What fiscal impact did the approved summary report?
A: It said state and local governmental entities estimated no costs or savings.

Q: Did the Attorney General decide that the estimate was accurate?
A: No. The opinion said review under § 116.175.4 did not examine the fairness or sufficiency of the estimated fiscal impact.

Q: Did approval endorse Richard von Glahn's petition?
A: No. The opinion expressly disclaimed endorsement of the petition or its proponents' objectives.

Background and statutory framework

The Missouri State Auditor submitted the fiscal note and fiscal note summary on September 18, 2025. They were prepared under § 116.175, RSMo for Richard von Glahn's initiative petition 2026-134.

The Attorney General issued Opinion 305-2025 on September 29, 2025 and approved the summary's legal content and form under § 116.175.4.

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/305-2025.pdf

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
CATHERINE L. HANAWAY

September 29, 2025

OPINION LETTER NO. 305-2025

The Honorable Scott Fitzpatrick
Missouri State Auditor
Truman State Office Building, Room 880
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Auditor Fitzpatrick:

This office received your letter of September 18, 2025, submitting a fiscal note and fiscal note summary prepared under § 116.175, RSMo, for an initiative petition submitted by Richard von Glahn (2026-134). The fiscal note summary that you submitted is as follows:

State and 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,

CATHERINE L. HANAWAY
Attorney General

OP-2025-325

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