Bill > HB318

This bill, known as the "Donald J. Trump Election Qualification Act", eliminates the previous restriction that prevented individuals with felony convictions from running for public office in Missouri. Under the proposed legislation, a person who has been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under federal or state law would no longer be automatically disqualified from candidacy, provided they meet other basic qualifications for office. The bill maintains existing provisions related to tax delinquency, which still serve as potential disqualification criteria for candidates. Specifically, candidates must file an affidavit confirming they are not delinquent in state income, personal property, municipal, or real property taxes. If a complaint is filed alleging tax delinquency, the Department of Revenue will investigate, and candidates will have 30 days to resolve any outstanding tax issues. Failure to address tax concerns within this timeframe could result in disqualification from the current election and being barred from refiling for an entire election cycle. The legislation appears to broaden candidate eligibility by removing the blanket felony restriction while preserving other candidate vetting mechanisms.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB318&year=2025&code=R