JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri voters soon will be asked to curb their own legislative powers by making it harder to change the state constitution following Senate approval Friday of a so-called initiative petition reform bill.
Senators mostly along party lines gave final approval to a plan designed to weaken a citizen petition process that has led in recent years to increases in the minimum wage and the legalization of abortion, recreational marijuana and sports betting.
Republican lawmakers say the change is needed to protect rural voters from getting drowned out by urban interests and stop undue influence from big-money advertising and signature-collecting campaigns from liberal donors out of state.
“Our state’s constitution has been under assault for years now,†said Senate President Cindy O’Laughlin in a Facebook post during the debate, “and it is time we stop this.â€
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Democrats, however, decried the proposal as an unjust power grab that would make it impossible for the residents to directly influence their government. They said they were hopeful voters wouldn’t approve it.
“I know that people are smart,†Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City. “I know the people of Missouri are not going to yield their power to the few.â€
The 21-11 vote with only two dissenting Republicans ended a two-week special session called by Gov. Mike Kehoe to advance key Republican interests, including the redistricting of a Kansas City congressional seat to flip it to the GOP.
The measure was not debated before Republicans used a procedural maneuver to overrule objections and head toward a vote.
Afterward, progressive groups that have advocated for ballot measures in recent years lamented its passage.
Caitlyn Adams, voter action director of Jobs With Justice, which pushed for a minimum wage increase, said that despite thousands of people showing up to protest the bill earlier in the week, Republican lawmakers “attacked direct democracy by attempting to end majority rule.â€
“It’s up to us to come together and reject this on the ballot,†Adams said in a statement.
The measure will be on the ballot next year.
Photos: Missouri Lawmakers steamroll passage of Trump-led redistricting, and ballot initiative changes
Missouri State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, center, shares a laugh with fellow Sens. Mike Cierpiot, R-Lee’s Summit, left, and Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, following a special session during which GOP lawmakers passed measures to redraw Missouri’s congressional district map and to take a ballot measure to voters that would make it harder to change the state constitution.
Missouri State Sen. Angela Mosley, D-Florissant, listens as the final vote is taken on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, during a special session in which GOP lawmakers passed measures to enact Congressional redistricting and to ask voters to make it harder to change the state constitution.
Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, second from left, signs legislation at the dais on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, as fellow members Sen. Brad Hudson, R-Cape Fair, Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, and Sen. Jason Bean R-Holcomb look on after ending a special session during which GOP lawmakers passed bills to re-draw Missouri's congressional district map and to take a ballot measure to voters that would make it harder to change the state constitution.
Missouri State Sen. Barbara Washington D-Kansas City speaks on the floor on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, during a special session in which GOP lawmakers passed measures to limit the power of voters to initiate laws and re-draw Missouri's congressional district map to send more Republicans to Washington D.C., a move opposed by Washington and her caucus.
Missouri State Sen. Doug Beck, D-south 911±¬ÁÏÍø County, center, gathers for a press conference with fellow Democratic senators on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, following a special session during which GOP lawmakers passed measures to limit the power of voters to initiate laws and re-draw Missouri's congressional district map to send more Republicans to Washington D.C., a move opposed by their caucus.
Missouri State Sen. Steven Webber D-Columbia questions a colleague on the floor on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at the Missouri capitol in Jefferson City.
People talk in the hallway of the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. A special session was called to discuss redistricting the congressional districts of Missouri.
Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, calls for an appeal for a ruling from the dais on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, after the Missouri Senate gaveled in a special session to take up bills by GOP lawmakers to change Senate rules and enact redistricting laws.
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver waits to enter the Missouri Senate chamber on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, as lawmakers gaveled in a special session to take up the GOP bill on redistricting. Cleaver, who represents a significant portion of Kansas City, stands to lose his seat under the new district map.
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver addresses a Missouri Senate committee on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, during a special session to take up bills by GOP lawmakers that will change Senate rules and enact redistricting laws. Cleaver, who represents a significant portion of Kansas City, stands to lose his seat under the proposed district map.
Missouri Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-911±¬ÁÏÍø County, reacts during a fiscal oversight comittee vote at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. The comittee voted to move House Bill 1 and Joint Resolution 3 to the executive session for a final vote.
Missouri State Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, grabs his papers and coffee as the Senate comittee adjourns during a special session at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. The comittee voted to move House Bill 1 and Joint Resolution 3 to the executive session for a final vote.
Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, reacts during a fiscal oversight committee vote at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. The comittee voted to move House Bill 1 and Joint Resolution 3 to the executive session for a final vote.
Missouri Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-911±¬ÁÏÍø County, reacts between debates on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at the state capitol in Jefferson City.
Missouri state Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, listens during debate from her seat on the Senate floor on Wednesday Sept. 10, 2025, at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.
Missouri State. Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville appears on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at the Missouri capitol in Jefferson City.
Missouri Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-911±¬ÁÏÍø County, left, questions fellow member Steven Webber, D-Columbia, right, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, on the Senate floor regarding proposed rules changes at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.
Protesters and activists opposed to new redistricting laws proposed by Missouri GOP legislators file into the gallery above the Missouri Senate floor in Jefferson City on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, to monitor a hearing on the measure. The Republican plan will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Protesters and activists opposed to new redistricting laws proposed by Missouri GOP legislators hold a rally in the Capitol rotunda in Jefferson City on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, to denounce the measure.
Protesters and activists opposed to new redistricting laws proposed by Missouri GOP legislators hold a rally in the Capitol rotunda in Jefferson City on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, to denounce the measure. The Republican plan will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Protesters and activists opposed to new redistricting laws proposed by Missouri GOP legislators chant in a full Capitol rotunda in Jefferson City on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, for a rally to denounce the measure. The Republican plan will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Protesters and activists opposed to new redistricting laws proposed by Missouri GOP legislators hold a rally in the Capitol rotunda in Jefferson City on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, to denounce the measure. The Republican plan will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Protesters against redistricting efforts by Missouri GOP legislators chant in the Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, during a rally denouncing proposed laws that would likely increase the number of GOP representatives Missouri sends to Washington, D.C.
Protesters against Republican-led initiatives to redistrict Missouri’s Congressional seats and to limit voters’ ability to change the state Constitution rally in the State Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in Jefferson City. Photo by Christian Gooden, 911±¬ÁÏÍø
Missouri State Rep. Elizabeth Fuchs, of 911±¬ÁÏÍø addresses a full rotunda of supporters with other Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, during a rally in the capitol against redistricting laws being written and passed by Republicans that will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Missouri State Rep. Ray Reed, center right, of Brentwood, addresses a full rotunda of supporters with other Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, during a rally in the capitol against redistricting laws being written and passed by Republicans that will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Protesters against GOP redistricting efforts display signage in the capitol rotunda on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, during a rally denouncing law written and passed by Republicans that will increase the number of GOP representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
