Elections-Constitutional Amendment Referendum-Summary Statement

Staff Report//June 10, 2026//

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Plaintiffs appealed the trial court’s adverse judgment on their action seeking to enjoin placement of a legislative referred constitutional amendment on a ballot referendum, arguing that the referral violated the Missouri Constitution. Plaintiffs also challenged the fairness and sufficiency of the summary statement and ballot language.

Although plaintiffs failed to establish that the trial court erred in ruling on the constitutional challenge, the court found that portions of the summary statement were not fair and sufficient and ordered a revised statement.

Judgment is affirmed in part and reversed in part.

Owens v. Hoskins (MLW No. 84902/Case No. WD88981 & WD88982 – 27 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, Chapman, J.) Appealed from circuit court, Cole County, Limbaugh, J. (Charles W. Hatfield, Alexander C. Barrett, Alixandra S. Cossette and Greta M. Bax, Jefferson City; Marc H. Ellinger, Stephanie S. Bell, and Cole D. Bradbury, Jefferson, City for appellants) (Catherine L. Hanaway, Attorney General; Louis J. Capozzi III, Solicitor General; and J. Michael Patton, Jefferson City for respondents)