HOUSE BILL NO. 2356 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE BYRNES.
4276H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To amend chapter 67, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to local tax ballot questions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 67, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 67.498, to read as follows: 67.498. 1. No political subdivision of this state shall cause to be printed, 2 advertised, or otherwise presented to voters a ballot question for the issuance of a bond, 3 levy increase, or other tax-supported indebtedness using the words "no-tax-increase 4 bond issue" or substantially similar words implying that the question imposes no 5 financial obligation on taxpayers. 6 2. A ballot question proposing a bond, levy increase, or other tax-supported 7 indebtedness shall include, in plain language: 8 (1) Whether the question will increase, decrease, or maintain the current debt 9 service levy; 10 (2) The estimated dollar impact on the average residential real property in the 11 political subdivision, as such impact is calculated by the county assessor and verified by 12 the state auditor; and 13 (3) A disclosure that bond issuance, even without an increase in the current levy, 14 constitutes a financial obligation of such political subdivision to be repaid by taxpayers. 15 3. Prior to certification of ballot language for a ballot question submitted to the 16 voters at an election under this section:
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 2356 2
17 (1) The political subdivision shall submit proposed ballot language to the state 18 auditor for review of accuracy, completeness, and compliance with this section; 19 (2) The state auditor shall complete such review within thirty days and provide 20 an advisory report; 21 (3) If the state auditor determines the ballot language is misleading or 22 noncompliant with this section, the political subdivision shall revise and resubmit the 23 ballot language before certification; and 24 (4) The attorney general may bring an action in a court of competent 25 jurisdiction to enjoin the use of ballot language that fails to comply with this section. 26 4. Ballot language found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be noncompliant 27 with this section shall result in the prohibition of the ballot question from appearing on 28 the ballot. The political subdivision shall be prohibited from placing such question on 29 the ballot again until the following general election cycle. 30 5. The requirements described in this section shall be in addition to all other 31 statutory requirements relating to ballot questions submitted to voters by a political 32 subdivision. ✔
Statutes affected: