Review and approval of the legal content and form of the proposed fair ballot language prepared for Senate Substitute No. 3 for Senate Joint Resolution No. 38.

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI ERIC SCHMITT June 26, 2020 OPINION LETTER NO. 16-2020 The Honorable John R. Ashcroft Missouri Secretary of State James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center 600 West Main Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 Dear Secretary Ashcroft: This opinion letter responds to your request dated June 16, 2020, for our review under § 116.025, RSMo, of a proposed fair ballot language statement for Senate Substitute No. 3 for Senate Joint Resolution No. 38. The proposed fair ballot language statement is as follows: A "yes" vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to reduce the limits on campaign contributions that candidates for state senator can accept from individuals or entities by $100 per election. There is no change for candidates for state representative. The amendment prohibits state legislators and their employees from accepting a gift of any value (which is currently $5) from paid lobbyists or the lobbyists' clients. The amendment modifies the criteria for redrawing legislative districts and changes the process for redrawing state legislative district boundaries during redistricting by giving redistricting responsibility to a bipartisan commission, renames them, and increases membership to 20 by adding four commissioners Supreme Court Building 207 W. High Street P.O. Box 899 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Phone: (573) 751-3321 Fax: (573) 751-0774 www.ago.no.pov The Honorable John R. Ashcroft Page 2 appointed by the Governor from nominations by the two major political party's state committees. A "no" vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding campaign contributions, lobbyist gifts, and the process and criteria for redistricting. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes. Pursuant to $116.025, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed fair ballot language statement. Because our review of the fair ballot language statement is mandated by statute, no action we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the joint resolution, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents. Very truly yours, Eric S. Jchnist ERIC S. SCHMITT Attorney General