Missouri voters will be considering several high-profile constitutional amendments and statewide ballot questions during the 2026 election cycle. The most high-profile measures will be a question on replacing the individual income tax with a broader state sales tax; and updates to the recently passed amendment on abortion restrictions.
On May 22, Governor Mike Kehoe placed four constitutional amendments on to the August 4th primary election ballot: Amendments 1, 2, 4, and 5 (see below).
Currently, the Secretary of State has certified the following:
- Amendment 1 – Soil and Water Conservation / State Parks Sales Tax Renewal
- Amendment 2 – Jackson County Assessor to be elected, no longer appointed
- Amendment 3 – Reproductive Healthcare and Gender Transition Restrictions
- Amendment 4 – Initiative Petition Reforms (must pass by majority in all congressional districts)
- Amendment 5 – Income Tax elimination and sales tax expansion
Additional ballot measures to be included through the General Assembly:
- SJR 95 – Show-Me Prosperity Fund (public endowment to replace state tax revenues)
- SJR 87 – Sheriffs Elections in Constitution
Amendment 3, SJR 95, and SJR 87 will be on the November 3rd general election ballot, and possibly others.
Potential ballot measures that may be included through Initiative Petition that are currently tied up in litigation and not certified for the ballot by the Missouri Secretary of State:
- Congressional Redistricting Referendum (boundaries of US District 5)
- Protection of Citizen Initiative Powers (limits legislative power to overturn)
Listing of Approved Ballot Measures and Fair Ballot Language:
The following ballot measures have been certified for the August 4th election:
Official Ballot Title
Soil and Water Conservation / State Parks Sales Tax Renewal
Amendment 1
Shall Missouri continue for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites, and resubmit this tax to the voters for approval in 10 years?
The measure allows continued collection of the existing sales and use tax, which generates revenue of approximately $140 million annually.
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will continue for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites. This will be resubmitted to the voters for approval in 10 years. A “no” vote will not continue this sales/use tax.
Official Ballot Title
Jackson County Assessor to be elected
Amendment 2
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- require all charter counties, including Jackson County, to provide for the election of a county assessor; and
- require assessors in all charter counties to comply with any training requirements established by general law?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to require that all charter counties, including Jackson County, elect a county assessor and that such assessors comply with training requirements established by state law. A “no” vote will not change the current constitutional provisions, which exempt Jackson County from the requirement to elect its assessor and do not require charter county assessors to follow training requirements under general law.
Official Ballot Title
Initiative Petition Reforms
Amendment 4
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- Modify current requirements that a statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution;
- Require a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution; and
- Make available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot?
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to:
- modify current requirements of Article III and Article XII that a simple statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution;
- require a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution; and
- make available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot.
A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to require majority approval in each congressional district for initiative petitions to amend the constitution or make available the full text of initiative petitions with the ballot.
Amendment 5
Would Increase Sales/Use Taxes, Delete Income Tax
House Joint Resolution 173 & 174, assigned as Amendment 5, proposes a state constitutional amendment to phase out Missouri’s individual income tax and authorize the expansion of sales and use taxes to offset revenue loss. The measure was approved by the General Assembly, and voters will likely decide in November 2026 whether to adopt these tax restructuring measures, which include protecting school funding while allowing broader sales taxes on goods and services. Governor Mike Kehoe will decide if the issue will be on the ballot in August or in November.
Key Aspects of HJR 173 & 174:
- Income Tax Elimination: Phases out the state’s individual income tax by reducing rates based on revenue growth, ultimately eliminating it and prohibiting its reimposition.
- Sales Tax Expansion: Authorizes the Legislature to broaden the scope of state and local sales/use taxes on goods and services to fill the revenue gap created by the elimination of income tax.
- Public School Funding: Includes provisions to ensure that the changes do not result in a reduction in funding for public schools.
- Timeline: The amendment outlines specific adjustments, with new sales tax rates potentially going into effect on Jan. 1, 2029.
Ballot Language:
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: ● Phase-out the individual income tax based on revenue growth; ● Reduce personal property and other local taxes when local revenues increase; ● Modify the sales and use tax to eliminate income tax and reduce local taxes; and ● Protect local funding for public schools and other purposes?”
The following ballot measures are expected on the November 3rd election ballot:
Official Ballot Title
Reproductive Healthcare and Gender Transition Restrictions
Amendment 3
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- Repeal the 2024 voter-approved Amendment providing reproductive healthcare rights, including abortion through fetal viability;
- Allow abortions for rape and incest (under twelve weeks’ gestation), emergencies, and fetal anomalies;
- Allow legislation regulating abortion;
- Ensure parental consent for minors’ abortions;
- Prohibit gender transition procedures for minors?
State governmental entities estimate no costs or savings. Greene County estimates it may experience an unknown increase in tax revenue. Other local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will repeal Article I, Section 36, of the Missouri Constitution approved by the voters in 2024 which provided reproductive healthcare rights, including abortion through fetal viability; continue to ensure women’s ability to access medical care for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages; allow legislation to regulate abortion providers and facilities to ensure health and safety; require informed and voluntary consent for an abortion, including parental or judicial consent for minors; allow restriction of abortions to cases of medical emergency, rape and incest under twelve weeks gestation, and fetal anomalies; prohibit public funding of abortions except in limited circumstances; and prohibit gender transition procedures for minors including gender transition surgeries, cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs, with exceptions for specific medical conditions. A “no” vote will leave Article I, Section 36, of the Missouri Constitution approved by voters in 2024 in place; will not limit abortion to cases of medical emergency, rape, and incest under twelve weeks gestation, and fetal anomalies, but leave access to abortion available through fetal viability; will not prohibit gender transition procedures for minors.
Senate Joint Resolution 95 Would Establish the “Show-Me Prosperity Fund”
This constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 95, if approved by voters, establishes the “Show-Me Prosperity Fund,” a permanent public endowment to provide long-term fiscal stability with the goal of eliminating state-imposed taxes without impairing the real value of the fund’s principal. The fund would consist of money appropriated to it by the General Assembly, and gifts, donations, grants, and bequests from any source.
The State Treasurer would invest the fund in exchange-traded funds tracking the stock performance of the Standard and Poor’s 500, a manner consistent with fiduciary standards applicable to public trust funds. No money would be appropriated from the fund until the notification is given by the State Treasurer that the net investment earnings of the fund, as defined in the amendment, are sufficient to eliminate state-imposed taxes, at which time net investment earnings from the fund shall be used to eliminate state taxes as provided in the amendment. The total amount of money that may be appropriated from the fund in a fiscal year shall not exceed three percent of the average market value of the fund over the preceding five fiscal years.
Upon the elimination of all state-imposed taxes, no such taxes shall thereafter be enacted, provided, however, that in the event the fund is unable to meet its obligations due to insolvency, revenue shortfall, or program failure, the General Assembly shall retain full authority to appropriate funds from any lawful source and to enact legislation establishing or increasing taxes or other revenues as necessary to ensure continuity of state programs and fulfillment of state expenditures that were anticipated to be supported by the fund.
Upon the elimination of all state-imposed taxes, the General Assembly may appropriate net investment earnings from the fund for the purpose of replacing federal money received by the state, for issuing dividend payments to residents of the state, or both.
The principal of the fund shall not be appropriated, pledged, or borrowed against. The State Auditor shall conduct an audit of funds to ensure compliance with the provisions of the amendment at such times that the Auditor deems necessary, but no less than once every three fiscal years.
Ballot Language:
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to establish a permanent public endowment fund to support state government instead of taxing Missouri residents, prohibit the General Assembly from appropriating or diverting the fund, and eliminate state-imposed taxes once the fund generates sufficient revenue to replace them?”
Senate Joint Resolution 87 Would Require Sheriffs to be Elected in Most Counties
This constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 87, if approved by the voters, provides that each county shall elect a sheriff for a term of four years by a majority of the qualified voters of the county. This constitutional amendment shall not apply to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, or St. Charles County. Also, the sheriff shall commit to jail all felons and traitors as well as other duties as provided in the constitutional amendment. The sheriff may be removed from office by a quo warranto petition brought by the Attorney General.
Ballot Language:
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to support law enforcement by preserving the right of citizens to elect a county sheriff, prohibiting the removal of a county sheriff except by a writ of quo warranto, and recognizing the office of sheriff as part of the administration of justice?”