The House has passed HJR 73 to undermine Missouri voters who passed Amendment 3 in November. If approved by both the House and Senate, the governor could put the issue back on the ballot in 2026 or a special election with deceptive ballot language.

 

The proposed ballot summary in HJR 73 doesn’t mention banning elective abortions. Instead, Missourians would be asked if they want to amend the Missouri constitution to: 

• “Guarantee access to care for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages; 
• Ensure women’s safety during abortions; 
• Ensure parental consent for minors; 
• Allow abortions for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, rape, and incest; 
• Require physicians to provide medically accurate information; and 
• Protect children from gender transition?”

Opponents stress that the ballot language is deceptive, not telling voters it would ban most abortions. That's why abortion opponents like SB 22 that would limit the courts' role in approving ballot language.