Missouri voters to decide on Amendments 3 and 6 in November
Missouri voters will decide Nov. 3 on two constitutional amendments addressing reproductive health care, medical procedures for minors and the authority of lawmakers to change voter-approved laws.
At a recent Stone County Republican meeting, state Senator Brad Hudson outlined the proposed changes, expressing support for Amendment 3 and opposition to Amendment 6.
Amendment 3 would repeal the reproductive freedom amendment approved by Missouri voters in 2024, which protects abortion through fetal viability. The proposal would allow new abortion restrictions with exceptions for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies and cases of rape or incest before 12 weeks of gestation. It would also require parental consent for minors seeking abortions and prohibit certain gender transition procedures for minors, with specified medical exceptions.
Hudson said Amendment 3 addresses abortion restrictions and gender transition treatments for minors, two issues Hudson has worked on as a legislator. Hudson helped pass Missouri's 2023 SAFE Act, which restricts gender transition treatments for minors, but the medication restrictions are scheduled to expire in 2027.
Hudson said Amendment 3 would place restrictions on gender transition medications and surgeries for minors in the state Constitution.
"If we pass Amendment 3, we will place these protections in the Constitution, the highest document of our state, to protect children from gender transition drugs and surgeries," Hudson said.
Hudson said Amendment 3 would replace the reproductive freedom protections approved in 2024 with restrictions Hudson believes would provide greater protection for unborn children.
"There's nothing that would stop us from continuing the fight to protect innocents after we pass Amendment 3," Hudson said.
What a YES or NO vote mean:
YES: Repeals the 2024 reproductive freedom amendment, permits abortion restrictions with specified exceptions, requires parental consent for minors seeking abortions and prohibits certain gender transition procedures for minors.
NO: Keeps the 2024 reproductive freedom amendment in place without adding the proposed constitutional restrictions.
Amendment 6 would change Missouri's initiative and referendum process, which allows citizens to propose laws or constitutional amendments and challenge legislation through statewide elections.
Currently, lawmakers can change or repeal voter-approved statutes through the regular legislative process. Under Amendment 6, changes to laws approved through citizen initiatives would require support from at least 80% of both legislative chambers before being submitted to voters for approval. The proposal would also establish additional constitutional protections for citizen initiatives and referendums while maintaining existing petition signature requirements.
Hudson said Amendment 6 would make it harder for elected representatives to change voter-approved laws when constituents raise concerns. Hudson cited Missouri's 2024 Proposition A, which included paid sick leave requirements that lawmakers repealed in 2025 following concerns from business owners.
"Amendment 6 would tie your hands with regard to that, virtually eliminating your ability to see changes like that. So, I am a hard no on Amendment 6," Hudson said.
What a YES or NO vote mean:
YES: Requires at least 80% support in each legislative chamber and subsequent voter approval for specified changes to citizen-approved laws. It also establishes additional constitutional protections for initiatives and referendums.
NO: Keeps the existing process, allowing lawmakers to change voter-approved statutes through regular legislative procedures.
Hudson said voters should examine the proposals themselves rather than relying solely on campaign advertising or social media.
"Don't base your votes on what you see on television or what you read on Facebook," Hudson said. "Do your research, look at the amendment yourself, read it."
Both amendments will appear on Missouri's Nov. 3 general election ballot, giving voters the opportunity to decide whether to change existing constitutional protections and the process for modifying voter-approved laws.
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