Proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting a statutory initiative measure approved by the voters to be amended or repealed by the General Assembly except under certain conditions

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Eric Woods

Missouri HJR 157 would require either a six-year wait, a 75% legislative supermajority, or a voter referendum to amend or repeal statutes enacted by citizen initiative.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)

#constitutionalamendments #elections #generalassembly

Summary of Bill: HJR 157 (Missouri, 2026)

Purpose and intent

Proposes a constitutional amendment to Section 49, Article III of the Missouri Constitution.

The primary aim is to restrict the General Assembly’s ability to amend or repeal statutory initiatives that were approved by voters via initiative, effectively strengthening voter-created statutes against legislative modification.

Key provisions and changes

The initiative power remains intact: the people reserve the power to propose and enact laws and constitutional amendments by initiative, independent of the General Assembly, and to approve or reject acts of the General Assembly by referendum.

New condition for amendments to statutory initiatives:

No statutory measure that was submitted by initiative and approved by a majority of voters can be amended or repealed by the General Assembly unless one of the following conditions is met:
More than six years have elapsed since the measure was approved.
The proposed changes are approved by three-fourths (75%) of the members of both chambers of the General Assembly.
If the General Assembly passes changes that do not receive the 75% threshold (subdivision 2), those changes must be submitted to voters and approved by a simple majority at the next general election.

This creates a two-track system for statutory initiative amendments:

Either wait at least six years.
Or achieve a supermajority in the legislature, or have the changes go to voters for a direct referendum.

Who would be affected

Statutory initiatives approved by voters (laws enacted by citizen initiative) would be protected from immediate legislative alteration.

The General Assembly would retain some ability to modify or repeal such initiatives under the specified conditions (six-year wait, supermajority approval, or voter referendum).

Procedural and timeline aspects

The amendment is to be submitted to Missouri voters at the next general election following the bill’s introduction, specifically:

General election date: the Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2026, or at a governor-called special election for that purpose.

If enacted, the new Section 49 would govern the interaction between voter-initiated statutes and subsequent legislative changes.

Context and background

The bill is framed as strengthening the stability and voter primacy of laws enacted via initiative.

It is similar in concept to prior proposals (HJR 38 in 2025 and HJR 130 in 2024), indicating a recurring policy discussion in Missouri about balancing initiative power with legislative oversight.

Notable specifics

Requires a three-fourths (75%) legislative supermajority to approve changes to a voter-initiated statutory measure as an alternative to the six-year delay.

Allows a path to voter approval of changes that fall short of the 75% threshold, bypassing immediate legislative modification but requiring voter consent at the next general election.

Practical implications

For supporters: provides stronger protection for citizen-initiated statutes against rapid legislative repeal or modification.

For opponents or those seeking flexibility: may constrain the General Assembly’s ability to adjust or repeal problematic or outdated initiatives in a timely manner, potentially tying lawmakers’ hands unless supermajority support or voter referenda are achieved.