SPONSOR: Murray
Upon voter approval, this constitutional amendment would place numerous restrictions on the General Assembly's ability to modify the initiative petition process.
The amendment requires ballot summaries to be clear and unbiased and prohibits the General Assembly from preventing a court from rewriting ballot summaries.
This amendment prohibits the General Assembly from raising signature thresholds, shortening the time allowed for signature collection, narrowing the allowable subject matter, placing additional requirements on petitioners, raising the threshold to pass, or otherwise impeding or restricting the initiative process and referendum process.
The amendment allows any registered voter in Missouri to propose laws and constitutional amendments, to sign and circulate petitions, and to vote on measures contained in petitions. Any law affecting the rights of initiative and referendum will be subject to strict scrutiny and narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling governmental interest.
This amendment also prohibits the General Assembly from changing any citizen-initiated law or amendment or reenacting a law rejected by a referendum unless the measure passes with 80% support in each chamber.
The maintenance of preexisting signature and vote requirements are detailed in the amendment.