SPONSOR: Schnelting
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Elections and Elected Officials by a vote of 7 to 3.
Upon voter approval, this proposed Constitutional amendment would require a 60% supermajority vote to amend the State Constitution.
This bill is similar to HJR 79 (2020).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that the amendment seeks to avoid very narrow majority votes to amend the State Constitution. The 60% figure is a more moderate hurdle that will hopefully not incentivize a Constitutional Convention attempt by initiative petition proponents.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Schnelting; Missouri Corn Growers Association; Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Missouri Cattlemen S Association; Missouri Farm Bureau; Missouri Soybean Association; and the Opportunity Solutions Project.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that the ballot measure process is difficult to achieve and fair. Only amendments with extremely strong support make it to the ballot.
Testifying against the bill were Alice Barber; Barbara Beier; United for Missouri; Frances Farah; Missouri AFL-CIO; Jahnavi Delmonico; Richard G Von Glahn, Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action; Sarah Starnes; Stephen Davey; Susan Gibson; Melissa Vatterott, Missouri Coalition for the Environment; John Saxton; Arnie Dienoff; Padraic McGrath; Brian Wingbermuehle; Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri; Stephanie A. Clarke; Missouri Budget Project; Carly Langlois; Gene Davison; Jenny; Shelley Swoyer; Susan Keturah Schmalzbauer; Tony Smith; Collins F Chetwin; Lisa Ann Williams; Margie Richcreek; Sierra Club Missouri Chapter; and Jobs with Justice Voter Action.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.