Voting Rights/Elections

Bill #: HB 3146 (House bill now in the Senate)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: Would allow misleading ballot summary statements

Status of the Bill: Currently on the Informal Senate Calendar. It could be moved to the Formal Calendar in the Senate at any time and be voted on. If it passes, this would be the final vote before sending it to the Governor to sign into law.

Talking points:  

• This bill removes the ability of citizens to challenge unconstitutional or misleading language in legislatively referred constitutional amendments by prohibiting courts from changing summary statements

• Missouri has a history of misleading summary statements that have been rectified only through action by courts

• It is critical that summaries of ballot issues be accurate and not misleading in order for voters to make informed decisions on how they choose to use their votes

• Under this proposed law, if the courts find that the summary language is flawed, rather than rewriting it, the court will have to send it back to the Secretary of State up to three times, causing unnecessary delays. This would negatively impact the time needed to inform voters about a ballot measure

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 3146 

Call to action: Contact your Senator, regardless of party, to tell them to OPPOSE this bill.  If your Senator is a Democrat, encourage a filibuster. Find your Senator HERE

LWV Position: The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation at all levels of government. The League further believes that governmental bodies must protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings, and making public records accessible. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 59)

Bill #: HB2125 (House bill now in the Senate)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description: Requires data matching between Secretary of State (SOS) and Department of Revenue (DOR) to include information pertaining to the citizenship status of individuals in DOR database; reinstates the Secretary of State's ability to conduct investigations and exercise subpoena power with respect to suspected election offenses, which expired Aug 28, 2025.

Status of the Bill: Placed on Senate Informal calendar, but could be moved to Formal Calendar at any time and put up for a vote.

Talking points:  

• While the State of Missouri should provide uniform, transparent and non discriminatory data reporting tools and resources to help local election authorities to accurately maintain their voter registration rolls, an important objective should be to minimize disenfranchising eligible voters

• In the current political climate, we can be sure that the Missouri Secretary of State’s intent is to suppress eligible votes

• Voters are already required to show identification in order to vote

Link to the summary of the bill: HB2125

Call to action: Contact your Senator to tell them to OPPOSE this bill should it be brought up for a vote. Find your Senator HERE

Links to further reading: Lawsuit Challenges Recent Voter Roll Purges in Virginia

LWV Position: The State of Missouri should provide uniform, transparent and non discriminatory data reporting tools and resources to help local election authorities to accurately maintain their voter registration rolls. 

Data from 3rd party organizations used in voter registration list maintenance should use strict criteria (strong matches) and be tested for accuracy prior to use, with an objective of minimizing disenfranchising eligible voters. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p. 18)

Bill #: HCS HBs 2387 & 2480 (House bill now in the Senate)

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill 

Short Description: Reinstates the presidential preference primary.

Status of the Bill: Placed on Senate Informal Calendar, but could be moved to the Formal Calendar at any time and put up for a vote.

Talking points:  

• Voting happens anonymously through a secret ballot 

• Primaries are run by and paid for by state and local governments 

• Primaries use state-controlled election procedures 

• Primary process is a familiar one of official ballots and secure submission of votes 

• Primaries are local and more accessible than caucuses for working people, people needing child care, etc 

• Early voting is a feature of primaries, supporting their accessibility

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HBs 2387 & 2480

Call to action: Contact your Senator to tell them to SUPPORT this bill should it be brought up for a vote. Find your Senator HERE

LWV Position: The League supports open primaries rather than caucuses as a measure to increase the informed participation of Missouri citizens in the selection of presidential nominees. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027 p. 17)

Reproductive Rights

Bill #: SB999 (Senate bill now in the House)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: Establishes the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act". It requires action to preserve life when a fetus is born alive after an abortion or attempted abortion. 

Status of the Bill: is scheduled for a hearing in House Children and Families Committee on Monday, May 11 at 1:00PM

Talking points:  

• This bill is a conflict with protections for medical professionals embedded in the Reproductive Freedom Amendment that voters approved by a majority vote on Nov 5, 2024

• Injects the state into decisions on medical care without taking into account non-viable pregnancies

• Denies a parent’s right to hold and provide comfort after birth until it dies following an abortion or birth of a fetus with a medical condition doomed to fetal demise 

• Abortion care is a part of evidence-based reproductive healthcare and includes decisions between the clinicians and patients using best medical evidence

Link to the summary of the bill: Link to the information page where you can find summary page under “Quick Links” SB999

Call to action: Submit testimony to OPPOSE SB999 HERE. Make sure to mark “In Opposition to” under reason in testimony form.

LWV Position: The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices. At the 2024 Convention, delegates passed a resolution reaffirming the League’s commitment to fight for reproductive rights and justice, including bodily autonomy, privacy, reproductive health, and access to contraception and abortion. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024 - 2026, p. 64-68)

Education

Bill #: SCS HCS HB 2710 (House bill currently in the Senate)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description: Would mandate the State Board of Education to implement an accountability report card system for public schools and would tie performance to funding.

Status of the Bill: Currently on the informal calendar in the Senate but could be moved to the Formal Calendar and brought up for a vote at any time.

Talking points:  

• This bill would enable performance-based funding

• Objective “grading” could be difficult

•  Schools with higher “grades” on their report cards would be financially rewarded

• Schools with lower report card “grades” would suffer

• School districts that are struggling are the ones needing the support of enhanced state funding, not those already succeeding

Link to the summary of the bill: SCS HCS HB 2710

Call to action: Contact your Senator to tell them to OPPOSE this bill if it’s moved to the Senate floor for a vote. Find your Senator HERE

Links to further reading:  A-F grading scale for Missouri schools heads to Senate despite pushback from lawmakers, educators    Kehoe's A-F school report card draws bipartisan skepticism

LWV Position: “Support for equal opportunity in education, access to quality programs and adequate financing for pre-K through 12. Equalization of funds at an adequate level of support throughout the state”. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027 pgs 57-58)

Social Justice

Bill #: SCS HCS HB 2592, 2787, 2834 (House bill currently in the Senate)

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill 

Short Description: This bill would restore voting rights to those leaving incarceration, without the requirement to complete all probation and/or parole. This bill has been amended in the Senate to disqualify those with violent and/or sexual offenses. Please see modifications done in Senate.

Status of the Bill: Placed on the Senate Informal calendar.  May be moved to Formal Calendar at any time and brought up for vote

Talking points:  

• Restoration of Voting Rights and subsequent voting decreases recidivism rates

• People on probation/parole are required to have jobs and therefore pay taxes, so they should be able to vote

• Voting helps people feel connected to and involved in their communities

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HBs 2592, 2787 &2834

Call to action: Contact your Senator to tell them to SUPPORT this bill should it be moved to the formal calendar and put up for a vote. Find your Senator  HERE

Links to further reading: UCONN Faculty Research Explores Voter Engagement for the Formerly Incarcerated

LWV Position: Supports the fundamental right of every citizen to vote and not be limited by the exercise of other constitutional rights, including the First and Second Amendments.(LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p.13)