SPONSOR: Baker
Upon voter approval, this constitutional amendment enacts numerous provisions related to elections.
This resolution will be known as the "Securing Missouri's Future from Foreign Interference in Elections Amendment".
The resolution prohibits a foreign government, a foreign political party, an individual who is not a citizen of the United States, or any other foreign national as defined by law to directly or indirectly make a payment, gift, loan, advance, deposit, or donation of money or anything of value for the purpose of influencing Missouri elections.
This resolution revokes the registration of any lobbyist who knowingly, willfully, corruptly, or fraudulently assists a foreign government, a foreign political party, an individual who is not a citizen of the United States, or any other foreign national as defined by law to violate any of the provisions of this resolution. If the knowing, willful, corrupt, or fraudulent assistance involved a state sponsor of terrorism or a foreign terrorist organization, as defined by law, then the lobbyist will also be guilty of a felony.
The resolution makes it an impeachable offense, if the officer is subject to impeachment, and a removable offense for all other officers, to knowingly, willfully, corruptly, or fraudulently assist a foreign government, a foreign political party, an individual who is not a citizen of the United States, or any other foreign national to violate any of the provisions of this amendment or any law enacted under the authority of this amendment. Beginning January 1, 2027, any public official who is removed or impeached for violating this amendment will be disqualified from receiving pension and retirement benefits from the state of Missouri. If the knowing, willful, corrupt, or fraudulent assistance involved a state sponsor of terrorism or a foreign terrorist organization, then the public official will also be guilty of a felony.
This resolution places numerous restrictions on the use of initiative and referendum petitions, as provided in the resolution.
Election infrastructure used in state and local elections, including but not limited to voter registration databases, voting machines, voting tabulation equipment, and equipment for the secure transmission of election results will be sourced, manufactured, and assembled in the United States. The resolution establishes new provisions requiring the Secretary of State (SOS) to determine and declare for each statewide initiative and referendum petition whether it complies with the provisions of this resolution or other provisions of law restricting the use of the initiative and referendum. If a proposed statewide initiative or referendum petition does not comply, the SOS will remove it from consideration for signature gathering and placement on the ballot, stating the reason or reasons why it was removed. If a proposed constitutional amendment submitted by initiative petition or a proposed law submitted by an initiative or referendum petition has been approved for placement on the ballot, and is found to violate the provisions of this resolution or other provisions of law, the SOS will remove it from the ballot and state the reason it was removed. Any local initiative or referendum measure that does not comply with the provisions of this resolution or other provisions of law restricting the use of the initiative and referendum will be removed as provided by law enacted by the General Assembly.
For all constitutional amendments submitted by initiative petition or laws submitted by an initiative or referendum petition that were enacted into this constitution or law on or after the general election held in November, 2024, and on or before 31 days after this section is approved by the voters of Missouri, the SOS must determine and declare whether a foreign government, a foreign political party, an individual who is not a citizen of the United States, or any other foreign national as defined by law directly or indirectly made a significant payment, gift, loan, advance, deposit, or donation of money or anything of value for the purpose of supporting the drafting, qualification, or passage of the initiative or referendum measure. If the SOS determines that significant support did occur, then the SOS will declare that the constitutional amendment or law is annulled and repealed. If the constitutional amendment or law, in whole or in part, was the repeal and reenactment of a previously enacted provision or provisions of this constitution or law, then the previously enacted provision or provisions of this constitution or law will be reinstated and in full force and effect.
This bill is the same as SJR 61 (2025).