Proposition A

The Missouri General Assembly's 2025 legislative session ended last week, but with some last-minute drama. While it was a more productive term than in recent years, some legislative priorities — including funding packages for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals stadiums — didn't make it to the finish line.

After GOP lawmakers repealed parts of a voter initiative on paid sick leave and minimum wage, and added an abortion ban to the ballot, protesters say they will look at passing a constitutional amendment that legislators can't touch.

The legislation repeals the entire earned sick leave portion of Proposition A as well as a portion of the minimum wage increase. Only one Republican joined all Democrats in voting no.

With just days remaining in the 2025 legislative session, unfinished Republican priorities include overturning voter-approved initiatives on abortion rights and paid sick leave.

On May 1, most Missouri workers began accruing paid sick leave under Proposition A, which voters approved last year. But with two weeks remaining in the session, state lawmakers could still pass a bill to change or repeal those provisions.

A coalition of business groups and individuals sued to strike down Proposition A, which Missouri voters passed in November. The new law raising the minimum wage and expands paid sick leave is set to take effect Thursday.

A Republican-backed bill would gut Proposition A, a voter-approved law requiring most employers to provide paid sick time off starting May 1. After it passed the Missouri House, Senate Democrats spent more than nine hours blocking action on the bill.

Missouri voters legalized abortion and instituted a paid sick leave policy through the voter-led initiative petition process last November. Just a few months later, state lawmakers are working to overturn both.

Business owners are required to tell their workers about their right to paid sick leave on Tuesday. But a bill in the Missouri legislature and a case in the Missouri Supreme Court could take away the provision, which voters widely approved last fall, before it begins May 1.

House Bill 567 would entirely remove Proposition A’s sick leave provisions, which are set to go into effect May 1. Opponents say it’s undemocratic for the Missouri legislature to directly undo a measure approved by voters.

Missourians approved Proposition A, which raised the minimum wage and mandated paid sick leave, with 57% of the vote. The legislation passed by the Missouri House entirely repeals the mandated sick leave portion.

Missouri voters approved Proposition A by a martin of 15% and more than 445,000 votes. But business groups argue that the ballot measure violates state law.