Missouri legislature

The state's highest court will hear arguments over two consequential initiatives on Sept. 2, just days before the deadline to finalize the November ballot. A circuit court judge ruled both proposals were unconstitutional.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had blocked the Respect Missouri Voters initiative, saying it had too many subjects and constrained the legislature's power. A Cole County judge agreed, keeping the measure off the November ballot.

Earlier this month, Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a proposed referendum on the congressional redistricting map state lawmakers passed last year.

Trials this week will determine whether Amendment 6, which would limit legislative changes to voter-passed initiatives, and a referendum on Missouri’s congressional map will reach the Nov. 3 ballot. Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected both as unconstitutional.

The Missouri House Future Caucus created a new checklist to help local communities consider data center proposals as they move to the state. Among the questions are how resources like water will be protected, and how the local community will benefit after tax incentives and infrastructure costs.

Despite the backing of Gov. Mike Kehoe, proposed constitutional amendments that would have made it more difficult for citizens to change the constitution and start the process of eliminating the state income tax were overwhelmingly rejected by Missouri voters.

After landslide losses for Amendments 4 and 5, the governor is backing a high-stakes abortion measure this fall.

Democrats are on the ballot in nearly 97% of Missouri races this year, a stronger showing than the party has had in decades.

While Republicans are considering how they want to approach tax cuts as well as making it harder to amend the constitution, Democrats plan to use the Republican lawmakers' support of 4 and 5 against them.

The Respect Missouri Voters campaign submitted more than 330,000 signatures for an amendment that would limit lawmakers from repealing or changing laws approved through the initiative process. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the petition Tuesday while also replacing the ballot title he already certified.

Because voters rejected Amendment 4, proposed state constitutional amendments brought by the public will still require a simple majority to pass once on the ballot.

The GOP Secretary of State's decision was expected. Proponents of placing the GOP-leaning map up for a statewide vote will go to court to put a vote on the plan on the November ballot.