SJR 31 - Under current law, initiative petitions proposing constitutional amendments shall be signed by 8% of the legal voters in each of two-thirds of the Congressional districts. This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, requires such petitions to be signed by 15% of the legal voters in each of the Congressional districts. Furthermore, current law provides that initiative petitions proposing constitutional amendments shall take effect when approved by a simple majority of the votes cast thereon prior to taking effect. This amendment requires such initiatives to be approved by at least two-thirds of the votes cast thereon prior to taking effect, with the exception that an amendment proposing solely to repeal any amendment adopted through the initiative process prior to December 3, 2020, shall be approved after receiving a simple majority.
This amendment is substantially similar to the introduced SJR 1 (2019).
SCOTT SVAGERA
Senate Committee Minutes: SENATE COMMITTEE MINUTES Bill No.: SJR 31
Sponsor: Sater
Hearing Date: 1/22/2020
COMMITTEE: Local Government and Elections
CHAIRMAN: Crawford
DATE REFERRED: 1/9/2020 DATE HEARING REQUESTED: 1/13/2020
STAFF:
Mary Grace Bruntrager
Rob Krosley
Barbara Mustoe
Scott Svagera
WITNESSES GIVING INFORMATION:
Jay Ashcroft - Missouri Secretary of State
WITNESSES FOR:
BJ Tanksley - Missouri Farm Bureau
Samantha Davis - Missouri Corn Growers Association
Brent Hemphill - Missouri Pork Association
WITNESSES AGAINST:
Woody Cozad - First Rule
Otto Fajen - Missouri NEA
Mo Del Villar - American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri
Ryan Johnson - United For Missouri
Ron Berry - AFT Missouri
Clark W. Brown - Missouri State Council of SEIU
Edward Smith - Missouri Coalition for the Environment