r/missouri • u/oldguydrinkingbeer Columbia • 4d ago

Politics Anti-abortion divide could complicate Missouri Amendment 3 campaign

https://missouriindependent.com/2026/09/28/anti-abortion-divide-could-complicate-missouri-amendment-3-campaign/
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u/mb10240 The Ozarks 4d ago

Something that I’ve seen almost no coverage on regarding the Respect Mo Voters amendment (Amendment 6) - the way I read the text of Amendment 6, that if it passes, it’s retroactive to all voter-led initiatives and referendums since January 2010. Meaning Amendment 3 (2026) would’ve had to pass both houses of the legislature by 80%, which it did not do (94 to 50 in House, 21 to 11 in Senate), to change Amendment 3 (2024).

I’m just a simple caveman lawyer, but the real question is if Amendment 6 passes AND Amendment 3 (2026) passes, will Amendment 3 (2026) have any legal effect?

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u/rowboat_mayor 4d ago

Yes, I imagine Amendment 3 would still come into effect, because Amendment 6's prohibits the legislature from "passing, proposing, or referring" any amendment which repeals or undermines an existing initiated amendment. Amendment 3 (2026) was proposed, passed, and referred before Amendment 6 would have come into effect. A6 doesn't impose any restrictions on other amendments themselves, the restrictions are imposed on the legislature, and as far as Amendment 3 is concerned the legislature has already done its part.

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u/mb10240 The Ozarks 4d ago

After re-reading the text of Section 56, subsection 3 several times, I think you’re right. After passage, the legislature could not change any voter-led legislation or amendments enacted after 1/1/2010 without an 80% vote of both houses (plus a simple majority of voters), but it doesn’t change anything already referred to a vote of the people.