No. 23-2025
Review and approval of the summary statement prepared for the initiative petition submitted by Jamie Howard amending Article III of the Missouri Constitution (2026-012).
Cite as Mo. Op. Att'y Gen. No. 23-2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
ANDREW BAILEY
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.mo.gov
January 27, 2025
OPINION LETTER NO. 23-2025
The Honorable Denny Hoskins
Missouri Secretary of State
James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center
600 West Main Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Dear Secretary Hoskins:
This opinion letter responds to your request dated January 15, 2025 for our
review under § 116.334, RSMo of a proposed summary statement prepared for the
petition submitted by Jamie Howard, 2026-011. The proposed summary statement is
as follows:
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
• prohibit the legislature from making changes in initiative petition laws that
weaken citizens' direct lawmaking power, except if eighty percent of the
House and Senate approve the change;
• provide that every ballot measure shall be decided at a general election,
except if eighty percent of the House and Senate approve calling a special
election; and
• establish an independent citizens' commission of thirteen members, who are
residents and registered voters of Missouri, to have exclusive authority to
consider and adopt ballot summaries for all ballot measures?
Pursuant to § 116.334, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the
proposed statement. Because our review of the statement is mandated by statute, no
action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement
of the petition, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its
proponents.
Very truly yours,
ANDREW BAILEY
Attorney General
OP-2025-023