What fiscal impact did Missouri approve for Richard von Glahn's initiative petition 2026-047?

Plain-English summary

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey approved the legal content and form of the fiscal note summary for Richard von Glahn's initiative petition 2026-047. The submitted summary said state and local governmental entities estimated no costs or savings, but tax revenue could decrease by an unknown annual amount depending on business decisions.

The review was limited. Under § 116.175.4, RSMo, the attorney general did not examine the fairness or sufficiency of the estimated fiscal impact and did not endorse the petition or its objectives.

What this means for you

Initiative petition proponents

The fiscal note summary for petition 2026-047 passed the attorney general's legal-content and form review. The opinion did not evaluate whether the fiscal estimate was fair or sufficient.

Missouri State Auditor staff

The opinion approved the submitted estimate of no costs or savings together with the stated possibility of an unknown annual decrease in state and local tax revenue.

State and local government researchers

Opinion 89-2025 records the fiscal estimate included in the reviewed summary, while expressly limiting the attorney general's review of that estimate.

Common questions

Q: What fiscal impact did the summary report?
A: It estimated no costs or savings and said state and local tax revenue could decrease by an unknown annual amount depending on business decisions.

Q: Did the attorney general approve the fiscal note summary?
A: Yes. The attorney general approved its legal content and form under § 116.175.4, RSMo.

Q: Did the opinion verify that the fiscal estimate was fair or sufficient?
A: No. The opinion expressly 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 June 4, 2025. They were prepared under § 116.175, RSMo for Richard von Glahn's petition 2026-047.

The attorney general issued the approval on June 16, 2025. The opinion limited its review to legal content and form and disclaimed any endorsement of the petition.

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/89-2025.pdf

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
ANDREW BAILEY

June 16, 2025

OPINION LETTER NO. 89-2025

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 June 4, 2025, submitting a fiscal note and fiscal note summary prepared under § 116.175, RSMo, for an initiative petition submitted by Richard von Glahn, 2026-047. The fiscal note summary that you submitted is as follows:

State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings. State and local government tax revenue could decrease by an unknown annual amount depending on business decisions.

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-2025-100

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