Modifies requirements for votes required to implement a constitutional amendment
If enacted, HJR130 would significantly alter how constitutional amendments are proposed and approved in Missouri. This change could lead to fewer amendments being successfully ratified, as it raises the threshold needed for approval. The bill reflects a desire among some lawmakers to ensure that any changes to the constitution reflect a strong majority view rather than a simple statewide majority. This tightening of the approval process is likely to affect future legislative and citizen-driven proposals, potentially stifling progressive changes that may have broad, but not overwhelming, support.
House Joint Resolution 130 (HJR130) seeks to amend the Constitution of Missouri by modifying the requirements for voter approval of amendments. Specifically, it proposes the repeal of Section 2(b) of Article XII and introduces a new section that mandates all amendments proposed, whether by the General Assembly or through citizen initiatives, to be approved by a dual majority. This means that not only must the amendments gain a majority of votes statewide, but they must also achieve a majority in more than half of the state house districts. This dual requirement aims to make the process for constitutional amendments more stringent and ensures broader public consensus.
The proposal has raised various points of contention among lawmakers and civil rights advocates. Proponents argue that the dual majority requirement will maintain the integrity of the state's constitution by preventing frequent and potentially frivolous amendments that do not enjoy wide support. Opponents contend that placing such constraints on the amendment process could disenfranchise voters and undermine grassroots initiatives aimed at addressing important societal issues. The debate reflects broader tensions between the desire for stable governance and the need for flexibility to adapt to changing public sentiments and needs.