A House committee voted Thursday to approve a resolution making it more difficult for the public to amend the state constitution.
House members voted 10-5 on party lines to approve House Joint Resolution 3, a resolution that would create the “Protect Missouri Voters” constitutional amendment. The resolution would require amendments proposed by initiative petition to receive a majority vote in each of the eight congressional districts instead of the current requirement of only a statewide majority.
If approved during the special session, voters would be asked to decide the question next year.
House Democrats questioned the timing of the HJR 3 hearing, which lines up with a redistricting proposal that would result in seven Republican-leaning congressional districts in Missouri.
“These things go together; it’s not a coincidence that we’re hearing this today,” said Rep. David Tyson Smith, D-Columbia.
Democrats shared concerns that the amendment threatens the initiative petition process and would make it challenging for citizens to amend the Missouri Constitution.
Amendment 3, a reproductive rights measure that received a statewide majority vote of 51.6% in 2024, wouldn’t have passed based on the proposed criteria — each Missouri district would have needed to vote in favor.
In contrast, a 2026 proposed measure that would repeal provisions in Amendment 3 would only need a statewide majority vote to pass, because the amendment was introduced and approved by Missouri lawmakers.
Rep. Brad Banderman, R-St. Clair, argued in favor of having different standards for ballot measures that are proposed by the legislature.
“It should be different because we are different,” he said. “We have to interact with this process differently because we’re charged differently as state representatives and senators.”
HJR 3 also proposes prohibiting any “foreign adversary” that makes contributions in favor of or against a ballot measure. Witnesses and representatives reiterated this point when arguing in favor of the bill, but it was challenged by some members of the committee for being redundant.
Smith objected to the inclusion of “things that are already the law to throw people off at the ballot,” referring to it as “ballot candy.” The phrase “ballot candy,” which came up frequently in the hearing, is a term for wording that is meant to draw approval, but obscures the true question voters face.
Republicans argued that the bill could improve voter turnout and better represent Missouri voters. When the committee heard from witnesses, those testifying in favor agreed with this sentiment.
But those in opposition argued that the bill would do the opposite, with some seeing it as an attempt to overturn the will of voters.
“This would end majority rule, making it more difficult for citizens to have their voices heard at the ballot box,” Denise Lieberman, voting rights lawyer and director of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, testified.
Republicans have tried for years to enact changes to the initiative process, but have failed to pass any of those resolutions through the legislature for voters to consider.