Missouri’s Abortion Rights Rollback Initiative Requires Revision

A proposed ballot initiative to repeal and replace a reproductive rights amendment added to Missouri’s Constitution in 2024 is valid but needs changing, a state appeals court said.

The measure met state constitutional requirements and didn’t contain more than one subject, as plaintiff Anna Fitz-James contended, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, said Thursday. But summary statements provided by Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R) failed to sufficiently and fairly inform voters that the provision would repeal and replace the amendment and have other effects, Judge Janet Sutton said.

The lawmakers’ action is part of a trend by Republican ...