Bill > HJR124

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to specify the election, powers, and duties of county sheriffs in Missouri. The amendment would require each county to elect a sheriff for a four-year term by majority vote, with some exceptions for certain city and charter county governments. The proposed amendment defines the sheriff as the chief law enforcement officer in the county, with specific responsibilities including suppressing riots and insurrections, apprehending felons, attending court proceedings, and executing legal processes. The resolution grants sheriffs the authority to hire deputies and set their compensation, and importantly, protects sheriffs from removal from office except through a writ of quo warranto initiated by the attorney general. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, the amendment would establish constitutional protections for the elected sheriff's role and powers, with the stated aim of supporting law enforcement and preserving citizens' right to elect their county sheriff. The ballot language frames the amendment as a measure to support law enforcement and recognize the sheriff's role in the administration of justice.

Justice

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HJR124&year=2026&code=R