Bill > HB2053

This bill establishes comprehensive recall procedures for elected officials in cities of the third and fourth classification and villages in Missouri. The legislation allows qualified voters to remove an elected official through a recall petition, with several key requirements: the official must have held office for at least six months, petition signers must represent at least 25% of registered voters, and the petition must be filed within 60 days of the first signature. Authorized reasons for recall include misconduct, incompetence, or failure to perform legal duties, and the recall petition must limit its explanation to 200 words. The election authority will verify petition signatures, and if sufficient, a special election will be held where voters can choose to remove or retain the official. Importantly, the bill stipulates that a recalled officer cannot run in the special election to fill their vacancy or be appointed to the position. The legislation also limits the frequency of recall attempts, preventing multiple petitions within six months of a previously unsuccessful recall effort, and applies these provisions uniformly across different types of local government entities in Missouri.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2053&year=2026&code=R