MO Opinion No. 323-2025 October 16, 2025

What fiscal impact did Missouri approve for House Committee Substitute for House Joint Resolution No. 3?

Short answer: The approved summary reported up to $21,817 in increased annual Department of Corrections costs and an unknown impact on the Office of State Public Defender. Other state and local governmental entities estimated no costs or savings.

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Disclaimer: This is an official Missouri Attorney General opinion. AG opinions are persuasive authority but not binding precedent. This summary is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed Missouri attorney for advice on your specific situation.
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Plain-English summary

Missouri Attorney General Catherine L. Hanaway approved the legal content and form of the fiscal note summary for House Committee Substitute for House Joint Resolution No. 3.

The approved summary reported that the Department of Corrections estimated increased annual costs of up to $21,817. The Office of State Public Defender estimated an unknown fiscal impact. Other state governmental entities and local governmental entities estimated no costs or savings.

The review under § 116.175, RSMo did not endorse the measure or express a view on its objectives.

What this means for you

Corrections and public-defender officials

Opinion 323-2025 preserved a capped annual corrections estimate and an unknown public-defender impact.

Legislators and public-finance researchers

The approved summary reported no estimated costs or savings for other state or local governmental entities.

Election officials

The fiscal note summary passed legal-content and form review. The opinion did not address the measure's merits.

Common questions

Q: What did the Department of Corrections estimate?
A: Increased annual costs of up to $21,817.

Q: What did the Office of State Public Defender estimate?
A: An unknown fiscal impact.

Q: Did other state or local entities estimate costs?
A: No. The approved summary said they estimated no costs or savings.

Background and statutory framework

The State Auditor submitted the fiscal note and summary on October 3, 2025 for House Committee Substitute for House Joint Resolution No. 3.

The Attorney General issued Opinion 323-2025 on October 16, 2025 and approved the summary's legal content and form under § 116.175, RSMo.

Citations and references

Statute: § 116.175, RSMo.

Source

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
CATHERINE L. HANAWAY

October 16, 2025

OPINION LETTER NO. 323-2025

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 October 3, 2025, submitting a fiscal note and fiscal note summary prepared under § 116.175, RSMo, for House Committee Substitute for House Joint Resolution No. 3. The fiscal note summary that you submitted is as follows:

The Department of Corrections estimates increased annual costs of up to $21,817. The Office of State Public Defender estimates an unknown fiscal impact. Other state governmental entities estimate no costs or savings. Local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

Under § 116.175, 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 petition or as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents.

Very truly yours,

CATHERINE L. HANAWAY
Missouri Attorney General

OP-2025-348

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

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