Overview
- Gov. Mike Kehoe signed proclamations sending four constitutional amendments to the Aug. 4 primary ballot: a parks sales-tax renewal, a county assessor election change, the initiative-petition rule change known as Amendment 4, and the tax overhaul called Amendment 5.
- Amendment 5 would let lawmakers expand sales taxes to transactions not currently taxed, link any new sales-tax revenue to cuts in the top individual income-tax rate, and give the Legislature five years to redefine taxable items.
- Amendment 4 would require a majority in every congressional district for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to pass and would add constitutional language banning foreign donations and signature fraud for initiative campaigns.
- Opponents quickly called the August placement a power grab, launched public campaigns against Amendments 4 and 5, and filed a Cole County lawsuit arguing Amendment 5 covers multiple subjects and uses misleading ballot language while election officials face compressed deadlines including a June 19 deadline for military and overseas ballots.
- If approved, the tax change could shift more of the state’s revenue burden onto consumer purchases and services and affect local taxes and services, while other high-profile items like a repeal of Missouri’s abortion-rights amendment and a possible congressional map referendum remain likely for the November ballot.