Citizen Initiative Petitions

Bill #: HB2124

LWVMO OPPOSES 

Short Description: Modifies provisions for initiative petitions and referendums; administrative restrictions, no pay for circulators; citizenship requirements, etc.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the House on Tuesday, March 10 at 8:00 AM in the Elections Committee.

Talking points:  

• The initiative petition process is an important tool of direct democracy for Missourians  

• Our State Constitution has protected this right since 1907

• This bill adds more red tape with the goal of making the initiative petition process more difficult

• Lawmakers should focus on making voting more accessible for Missourians

Link to the summary of the bill: HB2124

Call to action: Submit testimony to OPPOSE HB2124 HERE. Make sure to mark “In Opposition to” under reason in testimony form.

LWV Position: - The League of Women Voters believes responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people and promotes access to voting. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026 p. 11 and p. 57)

Bill #: HB3146

LWVMO OPPOSES 

Short Description: Modifies provisions for ballot summary statements.

Status of the Bill: Placed on the House Formal Perfection calendar for Monday, March 9.

Talking points:  

• Missouri has a history of misleading summary statements that have been remedied only through action by courts 

• It is critical that summaries of ballot issues be fair and accurate in order for voters to make informed decisions on how they choose to use their votes

• This bill violates the separation of powers. Courts should be able to remedy misleading language that violates Missouri law rather than sending it back to the drafter to redo

• Under this proposed law, if the courts find that the summary language is unfair, rather than rewriting it, the court will have to send it back to the Secretary of State up to three times, causing unnecessary delays, negatively impacting the time needed to inform voters about a ballot measure

• The reduced timeframe for final resolution can result in “running out the clock for final decision” which means the case is dismissed and the original language when the challenge was filed will stand

Link to the summary of the bill: HB3146

Call to action: Contact your individual legislator to tell them to OPPOSE this bill. Find your representative HERE

LWV Position:The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation at all levels of government. The League further believes that governmental bodies must protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings, and making public records accessible. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 59)

Taxes

Bill #: HCS HJRs 173 & 174

LWVMO OPPOSES

Short Description: Upon voter approval, if under current law, income tax rate falls below 1.4%, state income tax will be eliminated by 2031, and sales tax may be increased/expanded to make up for the income deficit. 

Status of the Bill: Placed on the House Formal Perfection calendar for Monday, March 9.

Talking points:  

• Raising revenue by sales tax is a regressive tax because it burdens those with less income equally to the burden on those more able to pay

• Raising revenue by income fairly raises revenue by taxing Missourians according to their income (i.e. ability to pay)

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HJRs 173 &174

Call to action: Contact your individual legislator to tell them to OPPOSE this bill. Find your representative HERE

LWV Position: Support of an adequate, balanced, and progressive tax system to finance necessary governmental services, which emphasizes equity and fair sharing of the tax burden (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025 -2027, p. 27)  

Education

Bill #: HB2061 (House bill now in the Senate)

LWVMO neither opposes or supports FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Short Description: Provides protections against discrimination and antisemitism in public schools and public postsecondary educational institutions.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for an Executive Session in the Senate General Laws Committee on Monday March 9 at 3:15 PM.

Link to the summary of the bill: HB2061

Links to further reading: 

Combat Antisemitism.org

Human rights and other civil society groups urge U.N. to respect Human Rights

LWV Position: Supports equal opportunity in education, access to quality programs, and adequate financing for pre-K through 12. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p. 57)

Bill #: HB1767

LWVMO neither opposes or supports FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Short Description: Enacts the Missouri Educators and Parental Empowerment and Rights Act.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for an Executive Session in the House on Wednesday, March 11 at 1:00 PM in the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.

Talking Points:

• The bill contains provisions regarding educator rights, parental rights, and student conduct and reflects significant input from various organizations in public education

• The Missouri National Education Association supports the bill

Link to the summary of the bill: HB1767

LWV Position: Supports equal opportunity in education, access to quality programs, and adequate financing for pre-K through 12. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027 p. 57)

Firearms

Bill #: HB3070

LWVMO OPPOSES

Short Description: Prohibits police and sheriffs from enforcing federal firearms laws against law-abiding citizens of Missouri, imposes civil penalties for violations, but provides some exceptions.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for an Executive Session in the House General Laws committee on Monday, March 9 at 12:00 PM.

Talking points: 

• It bans or punishes cooperation with federal gun law enforcement, tying the hands of local police who are trying to stop gun trafficking and violent crime

• It creates confusion for officers in the field about what they can legally do and lets dangerous offenders slip through the crack.

• Makes it harder to enforce federal laws against felons, domestic abusers, and traffickers who should not have guns

Link to the summary of the bill: HB3070

Call to action: Contact Committee members and tell them you OPPOSE this bill. Members of the General Laws committee can be found HERE. Click on the representative’s picture and you will be taken to their information page for their contact information.

Links to further reading:  Police warn Missouri Republicans against reviving a controversial gun rights law  

From Brady United regarding SAPA

LWV Position: The League supports strong federal measures to limit the accessibility and regulate the ownership of these weapons by private citizens. The League supports regulating firearms for consumer safety. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 179)

Bill #: SB1055

LWVMO OPPOSES 

Short Description: Includes the "Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act", a 3 day tax-free holiday for guns and ammo, expands "Stand Your Ground " laws.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for an Executive Session in the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee on Thursday, March 12 at 8:30 AM.

Talking points:  

• Creates the “Anti‑Red Flag Gun Seizure Act” and defines any law that removes guns without a full contested adjudication as a “red flag law” 

• Bans Missouri agencies and local law enforcement from enforcing any such state or federal orders, and prohibits them from taking federal money to help enforce them 

• Creates a right of action with a 50,000‑dollar civil penalty per violation against agencies and officers that help enforce a red flag law 

• Adds “all retail sales of firearms and ammunition” to Missouri’s August “back‑to‑school” sales tax holiday (clothing, school supplies, computers) so guns and ammo are tax‑free that weekend 

• Rewrites self‑defense where the state must disprove it in certain cases. It automatically assumes that the defendant’s belief in the need for force was reasonable  

Link to the summary of the bill: SB1055

Call to action: Contact Committee members and tell them you OPPOSE this bill. Members of the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee can be found HERE. Click on the Senator’s picture and you will be taken to their information page for their contact information.

Links to further reading: Missouri House and path to pass anti red flag gun laws  

Outdoor Sporting Goods Tax Holiday

LWV Position: The League supports strong federal measures to limit the accessibility and regulate the ownership of these weapons by private citizens. The League supports regulating firearms for consumer safety. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026 Page 179)

Bill #: SB 1078

LWVMO OPPOSES

Short Description: Allows concealed carry license holders to carry guns on public transportation.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for an Executive Session in the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee on Thursday, March 12 at 8:30 AM.

Talking points:  

• Public transit is crowded and confined, so any gun incident instantly endangers everyone nearby, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities

• Law enforcement is trained and authorized to respond to incidents, and arming civilians increases risks and complicates their efforts

• Transit riders and major Missouri transit providers oppose allowing guns on buses and trains, citing safety concerns and the potential to deter transit use

Link to the summary of the bill: SB1078

Call to action: Contact Committee members and tell them you OPPOSE this bill. Members of the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee can be found HERE. Click on the Senator’s picture and you will be taken to their information page for their contact information.

Links to further reading: Guns on Buses

LWV Position: The League supports strong federal measures to limit the accessibility and regulate the ownership of these weapons by private citizens. The League supports regulating firearms for consumer safety. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 179)

Social Justice

Bill #: HB2153

LWVMO SUPPORTS 

Short Description: This bill would prohibit the death penalty in Missouri.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the House Corrections and Public Institutions Committee on Monday, March 9 at 12:00 PM.

Talking points:  

• Twenty-three states have abolished the death penalty and three more have formal moratoriums

• Because of flaws in the criminal justice system, wrongful convictions occur and can lead to execution of innocent people

• Death penalty sentences are applied unfairly with disproportionate impact on racial, ethnic, linguistic, religious minorities, and LGBTQ+ communities

• No one has been able to prove that the death penalty is a deterrent

Link to the summary of the bill: HB2153

Call to action: Submit testimony to SUPPORT HB2153 HERE. Make sure to mark “in Support of” under reason in the testimony form.

Links to further reading: 

Abolition of Death Penalty Gaining momentum world wide    

Death Penalty in America   

Real death penalty now

LWV Position: Statement of Position on Abolition of the Death Penalty, as adopted by the 2006 Convention: The League of Women Voters of the United States supports the abolition of the death penalty. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 183)