SPONSOR: Simmons
Currently, initiative petitions require signatures from a certain threshold of voters in each of two-thirds of the congressional districts in order to qualify for ballot placement. Upon voter approval, this Constitutional amendment would instead require signatures from a threshold of voters in each of one-fourth of the counties of the State.
This Constitutional amendment would give voters in each county an opportunity to review and comment on initiative petitions proposing amendments to the Constitution in a public forum administered by the Secretary of State.
The resolution specifies that only citizens of the United States who are residents of the State of Missouri and properly registered to vote will be considered legal voters for the purposes of Article III of the Missouri Constitution.
This resolution prohibits a government of a foreign country, a foreign political party, or a registered foreign agent from engaging in a variety of behaviors related to initiative petitions, as provided in the resolution.
Currently, Constitutional amendments referred to the people take effect when approved by a simple majority of the votes cast thereon statewide. This resolution would require approval from a majority of votes cast in a majority of counties. However, under this resolution, any ballot measure proposing a constitutional amendment solely to repeal an amendment that was approved prior to the effective date of this resolution would take effect when approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon.
This resolution prohibits the General Assembly from amending or repealing any statutory measure submitted via initiative petition and approved by the people for a period of two years after the effective date of the law, unless approved by a vote of at least four-sevenths of the members of each house of the General Assembly.
This bill is similar to HCS HJR 86 (2024).