Bill > SB935

This bill modifies Missouri's laws regarding ballot measures, focusing on the process of challenging and creating ballot titles and summaries. The bill establishes more specific criteria for challenging ballot titles, particularly for initiative petitions, by allowing citizens to file legal challenges in Cole County Circuit Court within ten days of a ballot title's certification. Key changes include requiring summary statements to be "complete, concise, clear, and accurate" for initiative petitions, and providing a detailed process for courts to review and potentially revise ballot summaries. The bill allows up to three revisions of a summary statement by the Secretary of State, with the court having the power to write its own summary if previous attempts are unsatisfactory. Additionally, the bill introduces a provision that if a court finds an initiative petition's summary cannot be written within 100 words due to potential violations of the single-subject constitutional requirement, the court can prevent the measure from being circulated or placed on the ballot. The legislation also clarifies rules about signature gathering, stating that signatures obtained before the official ballot title is certified will not be counted, and providing protection for signatures gathered before court-ordered title changes. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the transparency, fairness, and legal scrutiny of the ballot measure process in Missouri.

Government Affairs

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=75