Cole County judge rules against effort to check legislative power with ballot measure

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Cole County judge ruled Wednesday that the Missouri secretary of state was right to reject an initiative petition seeking to check the General Assembly's power to change voter-approved policy.

Daniel Green issued the ruling a day after the parties argued in court. Three Missouri residents, including Jamie Howard of Jefferson City, sued Secretary of State Denny Hoskins on Aug. 6, and the case was expedited so it could be wrapped up before next month's deadline to certify the November ballot.

The initiative petition would ask voters to implement changes to the Missouri Constitution limiting legislators' powers to curb policy approved by voters. The legislature last year repealed a measure approved by voters that required employers to provide sick leave, and Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the legislation.

Judge Daniel Green wrote that the initiative petition was overly broad, violating Missouri's provision that ballot measures deal with just one subject.

"Initiative 2026-106 makes sweeping reforms affecting multiple provisions of the Missouri Constitution," Green wrote.

Green wrote that the measure also violates the U.S. Constitution by limiting the people's ability to reconsider laws that have been approved.

The plaintiffs also filed a notice that they would appeal the decision on Wednesday.