HCS/SS#4/SCS/SJRs 74, 48, 59, 61 & 83 - This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, modifies various provisions relating to constitutional amendments.

VOTER APPROVAL THRESHOLD (Sections 2(b) and 3(c))

Current law provides that any constitutional amendment or new constitution shall take effect at the end of 30 days after the election when approved by a simple majority of the votes cast on the measure. This amendment requires all such proposed constitutional amendments and new constitutions to receive a majority of the votes cast statewide as well as a majority of the votes cast in at least a majority of the Congressional districts, such approved amendments to take effect at the end of 30 days after the election.

PROHIBITING FOREIGN ACTIVITY IN INITIATIVE PETITIONS (Section 2(c))

The amendment creates new restrictions relating to foreign government activity with respect to constitutional amendments. Specifically, it shall be unlawful for:

  A government of a foreign country or a foreign political party to sponsor an initiative petition proposing a constitutional amendment;

  A government of a foreign country or a foreign political party to directly or indirectly make contributions in connection with an election on a constitutional amendment or contributions in support of or opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment;

  A government of a foreign country or a foreign political party to directly or indirectly make an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication, whether print, broadcast, or digital media, or otherwise, related to a proposed constitutional amendment; or

  A person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation from a government of a foreign country or a foreign political party, in connection with a proposed constitutional amendment.

LEGAL VOTERS AND ELECTORS (Section 2(d))

No person shall be eligible to vote on any measure submitted to the people that amends, repeals, or replaces the constitution, whether submitted through the initiative petition process, by the General Assembly, or by a constitutional convention, unless such person is a legal resident of the state of Missouri and a citizen of the United States of America.

REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD (Section 2(e))

The amendment requires that legal voters in each Congressional district be given the opportunity to review and comment upon all initiative petitions proposing constitutional amendments following the filing of the petition with the Secretary of State, not less than 15 days prior to the measure appearing on the ballot. Such process shall be administered by the Secretary of State in a public forum.

SCOTT SVAGERA

HA 1 - MODIFIES INTERSECTIONAL REFERENCE TO ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION; MODIFIES THE PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD PROVISION BY APPLYING IT TO "CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED THROUGH INITIATIVE PETITION" RATHER THAN "INITIATIVE PETITIONS PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION."

Statutes affected:
Introduced (3890S.01): 0.000, 0.000, 0.000
Committee (3890S.04): 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000
Perfected (3890S.13): 0.000, 0.000


Senate Committee Minutes:
SENATE COMMITTEE MINUTES Bill No.: SJR 74
Sponsor: Coleman
Hearing Date: 1/29/2024


COMMITTEE: Local Government and Elections

CHAIRMAN: Gannon

DATE REFERRED: 1/25/2024 DATE HEARING REQUESTED:



STAFF:
Janet Land
Heather McKnelly
Mary Grace Pringle
Chris Sutherland
Scott Svagera


WITNESSES GIVING INFORMATION:
Ernst Wayne Lee - Disability & Civil Rights Advocate


WITNESSES FOR:
Susan Klein - Right to Life
Samuel Lee - Campaign Life Missouri
Ben Travlos - Farm Bureau
Liz Henderson - Missouri Soybean Association
Jacob Maerli - American Action Fund


WITNESSES AGAINST:
Lisa Pannett - ArmorVine
Arnie Dienoff - State Public Advocate/Against Taking the of the People
Jon Stambaugh - Self
Elizabeth Franklin - Self
Sa Licklider - MO Retailers Assn
Nancy Copenhaver - League of Women Voters of Missouri
Jeremy LaFaver - Empower Missouri
Otto Fajen - NEA
Jeanette Oxford - Paraquad, Inc
Denise Lieberman - Missouri Voter Protection Coalition
Jeff Smith - ACLU of Missouri
Ron Berry - Jobs with Justice Voter Action
Dan Viets - Attorney Columbia MO
Dawn NIchols - Sierra Club