FIRSTREGULARSESSION
HOUSEJOINT
RESOLUTION NO.39
103RDGENERALASSEMBLY
INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVESEITZ.
1462H.01I DANARADEMANMILLER,ChiefClerk
JOINTRESOLUTION
SubmittingtothequalifiedvotersofMissourianamendmentrepealingSection36ofArticleI
oftheConstitutionofMissouri,andadoptingfivenewsectionsinlieuthereofrelating
toabortion.
BeitresolvedbytheHouseofRepresentatives,theSenateconcurringtherein:
ThatatthenextgeneralelectiontobeheldinthestateofMissouri,onTuesdaynext
2followingthefirstMondayinNovember,2026,orataspecialelectiontobecalledbythe
3governorforthatpurpose,thereisherebysubmittedtothequalifiedvotersofthisstate,for
4adoptionorrejection,thefollowingamendmenttoArticleIoftheConstitutionofthestateof
5Missouri:
SectionA.Section36,ArticleI,ConstitutionofMissouri,isrepealedandfivenew
2sectionsadoptedinlieuthereof,tobeknownasSections36(a),36(b),36(c),36(d),and36(e),
3toreadasfollows:
Section36(a).1.Anindividualabortionreportforeachabortionperformedor
2induceduponawomanshallbecompletedbythephysicianwhoperformedorinduced
3theabortion.Abortionreportsshallinclude,butnotbelimitedto,acertificationthat
4thephysiciandoesnothaveanyknowledgethatthewomansoughttheabortionsolely
5becauseofaprenataldiagnosis,test,orscreeningindicatingDownSyndromeorthe
6potentialofDownSyndromeintheunbornchildandacertificationthatthephysician
7doesnothaveanyknowledgethatthewomansoughttheabortionsolelybecauseofthe
8sexorraceoftheunbornchild.Abortionreportsshallalsoincludethetime,date,
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 9method,andresultsofthetestperformedtodetectafetalheartbeatunderSection36(b)
10ofthisarticleandinformationconcerninganymedicalemergencyasrequiredunder
11subsection7ofSection36(b)ofthisarticle.
12 2.Anindividualcomplicationreportforanypost-abortioncareperformedupon
13awomanshallbecompletedbythephysicianprovidingsuchpost-abortioncare.This
14reportshallinclude:
15 (1)Thedateoftheabortion;
16 (2)Thenameandaddressoftheabortionfacilityorhospitalwheretheabortion
17wasperformedorinduced;and
18 (3)Thenatureoftheabortioncomplicationdiagnosedortreated.
19 3.Allabortionreportsshallbesignedbytheattendingphysicianwhoperformed
20orinducedtheabortionandsubmittedtothedepartmentofhealthandseniorservices
21withinforty-fivedaysfromthedateoftheabortion.Allcomplicationreportsshallbe
22signedbythephysicianprovidingthepost-abortioncareandsubmittedtothe
23departmentofhealthandseniorserviceswithinforty-fivedaysfromthedateofthe
24post-abortioncare.
25 4.Acopyoftheabortionreportshallbemadeapartofthemedicalrecordofthe
26patientoftheabortionfacilityorhospitalinwhichtheabortionwasperformedor
27induced.
28 5.Thedepartmentofhealthandseniorservicesshallberesponsiblefor
29collectingallabortionreportsandcomplicationreportsandcollatingandevaluatingall
30datagatheredtherefromandshallannuallypublishastatisticalreportbasedonsuch
31datafromabortionsperformedorinducedinthepreviouscalendaryear.
Section36(b).1.Forthepurposesofdeterminingthepresenceofafetal
2heartbeatunderthissection,"standardmedicalpractice"includesemployingthe
3appropriatemeansofdetectingtheheartbeatbasedontheestimatedgestationalageof
4theunbornchildandtheconditionofthewomanandherpregnancy.
5 2.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontraryandexceptin
6casesofmedicalemergency,aphysicianshallnotknowinglyperformorinducean
7abortiononapregnantwomanunlessthephysicianhasdetermined,inaccordancewith
8thissection,whetherthewoman'sunbornchildhasadetectablefetalheartbeat.
9 3.Inmakingadeterminationundersubsection2ofthissection,thephysician
10shalluseatestthatis:
11 (1)Consistentwiththephysician'sgoodfaithandreasonableunderstandingof
12standardmedicalpractice;and
13 (2)Appropriatefortheestimatedgestationalageoftheunbornchildandthe
14conditionofthepregnantwomanandherpregnancy.
HJR39 2 15 4.Aphysicianmakingadeterminationundersubsection2ofthissectionshall
16recordinthepregnantwoman'smedicalrecord:
17 (1)Theestimatedgestationalageoftheunbornchild;
18 (2)Themethodusedtoestimatethegestationalage;and
19 (3)Thetestusedfordetectingafetalheartbeat,includingthedate,time,and
20resultsofthetest.
21 5.Exceptincasesofmedicalemergency,aphysicianshallnotknowingly
22performorinduceanabortiononapregnantwomanifthephysiciandetectedafetal
23heartbeatfortheunbornchildorifthephysicianfailedtoperformatesttodetectafetal
24heartbeat.
25 6.Aphysicianshallnotbeconsideredinviolationoftheprovisionsofthissection
26ifthephysicianperformedatestforafetalheartbeatanddidnotdetectafetal
27heartbeat.
28 7.Aphysicianwhoperformsorinducesanabortioninthecaseofmedical
29emergencywithoutfirstperformingatestforafetalheartbeatshallmakewritten
30notationsinthewoman'smedicalrecordof:
31 (1)Thephysician'sbeliefthatamedicalemergencynecessitatedtheabortion;
32and
33 (2)Themedicalconditionofthepregnantwomanthatpreventedcompliance
34withtheprovisionsofthissection.
35 8.Thissectionshallnotaffect:
36 (1)Theprovisionsofthischapterthatrestrictorregulateanabortionbya
37particularmethodorduringaparticularstageofpregnancy;or
38 (2)Anyotherprovisionofstatelawthatregulatesorprohibitsabortion.
39 9.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontrary,theprovisionsof
40thissectionshallbeenforcedexclusivelythroughtheprivatecivilactionsdescribedin
41Section36(c)ofthisarticle.Noenforcementofthissectioninresponsetoviolationsof
42thissectionshallbetakenorthreatenedbythestate,apoliticalsubdivisionofthestate,a
43prosecutingorcircuitattorney,oranexecutiveoradministrativeofficeroremployeeof
44thisstateorapoliticalsubdivisionofthisstateagainstanyperson,exceptasprovidedin
45Section36(c)ofthisarticle.
Section36(c).1.Anyperson,otherthananofficeroremployeeofthestateora
2politicalsubdivisionofthestate,maybringacivilactionagainstanypersonwho:
3 (1)PerformsorinducesanabortioninviolationofSection36(b)ofthisarticle;
4 (2)Knowinglyengagesinconductthataidsorabetstheperformanceor
5inductionofanabortion,includingpayingfororreimbursingthecostsofanabortion
6throughinsuranceorotherwise,iftheabortionisperformedorinducedinviolationof
HJR39 3 7Section36(b)ofthisarticle,regardlessofwhetherthepersonkneworshouldhave
8knownthattheabortionwouldbeperformedorinducedinviolationofSection36(b)of
9thisarticle;or
10 (3)Intendstoengageintheconductdescribedbysubdivision(1)or(2)ofthis
11subsection.
12 2.Ifaclaimantprevailsinanactionbroughtunderthissection,thecourtshall
13award:
14 (1)Injunctivereliefsufficienttopreventthedefendantfromviolatingthis
15sectionorengaginginactsthataidorabetviolationsofSection36(b)ofthisarticle;
16 (2)Statutorydamagesinanamountofnotlessthantenthousanddollarsfor
17eachabortionthatthedefendantperformedorinducedinviolationofSection36(b)of
18thisarticle,andforeachabortionperformedorinducedinviolationofSection36(b)of
19thisarticlethatthedefendantaidedorabetted;and
20 (3)Costsandattorney'sfees.
21 3.Notwithstandingtheprovisionsofsubsection2ofthissection,acourtshallnot
22awardreliefunderthissectioninresponsetoaviolationofsubdivision(1)or(2)of
23subsection1ofthissectionifthedefendantdemonstratesthatheorshepreviouslypaid
24thefullamountofstatutorydamagesundersubdivision(2)ofsubsection2ofthissection
25inapreviousactionforthatparticularabortionperformedorinducedinviolationof
26Section36(b)ofthisarticle,orfortheparticularconductthataidedorabettedan
27abortionperformedorinducedinviolationofSection36(b)ofthisarticle.
28 4.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontrary,apersonmay
29bringanactionunderthissectionnotlaterthanfouryearsfromthedatethecauseof
30actionaccrues.
31 5.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontrary,thefollowingshall
32notbeadefensetoanactionbroughtunderthissection:
33 (1)Ignoranceormistakeoflaw;
34 (2)Adefendant'sbeliefthattherequirementsofSection36(b)ofthisarticleare
35unconstitutionalorwereunconstitutional;
36 (3)Adefendant'srelianceonanycourtdecisionthathasbeenoverruledon
37appealorbyasubsequentcourt,evenifthatcourtdecisionhadnotbeenoverruled
38whenthedefendantengagedinconductthatviolatesSection36(b)ofthisarticle;
39 (4)Adefendant'srelianceonanystateorfederalcourtdecisionthatisnot
40bindingonthecourtinwhichtheactionhasbeenbrought;
41 (5)Nonmutualissuepreclusionornonmutualclaimpreclusion;
42 (6)Theconsentoftheunbornchild'smothertotheabortion;or
HJR39 4 43 (7)AnyclaimthattheenforcementofSection36(b)ofthisarticleorthe
44impositionofcivilliabilityagainstthedefendantwillviolatetheconstitutionalrightsof
45thirdparties,exceptasprovidedbySection36(d)ofthisarticle.
46 6.Itshallbeanaffirmativedefenseif:
47 (1)Adefendantundersubdivision(2)ofsubsection1ofthissectionreasonably
48believed,afterconductingareasonableinvestigation,thatthephysicianperformingor
49inducingtheabortionhadcompliedorwouldcomplywiththissection;or
50 (2)Adefendantundersubdivision(3)ofsubsection1ofthissectionreasonably
51believed,afterconductingareasonableinvestigation,thatthephysicianperformingor
52inducingtheabortionwillcomplywiththissection.
53
54Thedefendanthastheburdenofprovinganaffirmativedefenseundersubdivision(1)
55or(2)ofthissubsectionbyapreponderanceoftheevidence.
56 7.Thissectionshallnotbeconstruedtoimposeliabilityonanyspeechor
57conductprotectedbytheFirstAmendmentoftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates,as
58madeapplicabletothestatesthroughtheUnitedStatesSupremeCourt'sinterpretation
59oftheFourteenthAmendmentoftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates,orbythe
60ConstitutionofMissouri.
61 8.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontrary,thestate,any
62stateofficial,oraprosecutingorcircuitattorneyshallnotinterveneinanaction
63broughtunderthissection.Thissubsectionshallnotprohibitapersondescribedbythis
64subsectionfromfilinganamicuscuriaebriefintheaction.
65 9.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontrary,acourtshallnot
66awardcostsorattorney'sfeestoadefendantinanactionbroughtunderthissection.
67 10.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontrary,acivilaction
68underthissectionshallnotbebroughtbyapersonwhoimpregnatedthepregnant
69womanthroughanactofrape,sexualassault,orincest.
70 11.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontrary,acivilaction
71underthissectionshallnotbebroughtagainstawomanuponwhomanabortionwas
72performedorinduced,orattemptedtobeperformedorinduced,inviolationofSection
7336(b)ofthisarticle.
Section36(d).1.AdefendantagainstwhomanactionisbroughtunderSection
236(c)ofthisarticleshallnothavestandingtoasserttherightsofwomenseekingan
3abortionasadefensetoliabilityunderthatsectionunless:
4 (1)TheUnitedStatesSupremeCourtholdsthatthecourtsofthisstateare
5requiredtoconferstandingonthatdefendanttoassertthethird-partyrightsofwomen
6seekinganabortioninstatecourtasamatteroffederalconstitutionallaw;or
HJR39 5 7 (2)Thedefendanthasstandingtoasserttherightsofwomenseekinganabortion
8underthetestsforthird-partystandingestablishedbytheUnitedStatesSupreme
9Court.
10 2.AdefendantinanactionbroughtunderSection36(c)ofthisarticlemayassert
11anaffirmativedefensetoliabilityif:
12 (1)Thedefendanthasstandingtoassertthethird-partyrightsofawomanor
13groupofwomenseekinganabortioninaccordancewithsubsection1ofthissection;and
14 (2)Thedefendantdemonstratesthatthereliefsoughtbytheclaimantwill
15imposeanundueburdenonthatwomanorthatgroupofwomenseekinganabortion.
16 3.Acourtshallnotfindanundueburdenundersubsection2ofthissection
17unlessthedefendantintroducesevidenceprovingthat:
18 (1)Anawardorreliefwillpreventawomanoragroupofwomenfrom
19obtaininganabortion;or
20 (2)Anawardofreliefwillplaceasubstantialobstacleinthepathofawomanor
21agroupofwomenwhoareseekinganabortion.
22 4.Adefendantshallnotestablishanundueburdenunderthissectionby:
23 (1)Merelydemonstratingthatanawardofreliefwillpreventwomenfrom
24obtainingsupportorassistance,financialorotherwise,fromothersintheireffortto
25obtainanabortion;or
26 (2)Arguingorattemptingtodemonstratethatanawardofreliefagainstother
27defendantsorotherpotentialdefendantswillimposeanundueburdenonwomen
28seekinganabortion.
29 5.Theaffirmativedefenseundersubsection2ofthissectionshallnotbe
30availableiftheUnitedStatesSupremeCourtoverrulesRoev.Wade,410U.S.113(1973)
31orPlannedParenthoodv.Casey,505U.S.833(1992),regardlessofwhethertheconduct
32onwhichthecauseofactionisbasedoccurredbeforetheSupremeCourtoverruled
33eitherofthosedecisions.
34 6.Nothinginthissectionshallinanywaylimitorprecludeadefendantfrom
35assertingthedefendant'spersonalconstitutionalrightsasadefensetoliabilityunder
36Section36(c)ofthisarticle,andacourtshallnotawardreliefunderSection36(c)ofthis
37articleiftheconductforwhichthedefendanthasbeensuedwasanexerciseofstateor
38federalconstitutionalrightsthatpersonallybelongtothedefendant.
Section36(e).1.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontrary,a
2civilactionbroughtunderSection36(c)ofthisarticlemaybebroughtin:
3 (1)Thecountyinwhichallorasubstantialpartoftheeventsoromissionsgiving
4risetotheclaimoccurred;
HJR39 6 5 (2)Thecountyofresidenceforanyoneofthenaturalpersondefendantsatthe
6timethecauseofactionaccrued;
7 (3)Thecountyoftheprincipalofficeinthisstateofanyoneofthedefendants
8thatisnotanaturalperson;or
9 (4)Thecountyofresidencefortheclaimantiftheclaimantisanaturalperson
10residinginthisstate.
11 2.IfacivilactionisbroughtunderSection36(c)ofthisarticleinanyoneofthe
12venuesdescribedbysubsection1ofthissection,theactionshallnotbetransferredtoa
13differentvenuewithoutthewrittenconsentofallparties.
14 3.Thestate,apoliticalsubdivisionofthisstate,andeachofficerandemployeeof
15thisstateorapoliticalsubdivisionofthisstateshallhaveallofthesovereignorofficial
16immunitiesavailabletotheminanyaction,claim,orcounterclaimoranytypeoflegal
17orequitableactionthatchallengesthevalidityofanyprovisionorapplicationofthis
18sectionorSections36(b),36(c),and36(d)ofthisarticle,onconstitutionalgroundsor
19otherwise.Noprovisionofstatelawshallbeconstruedtowaiveorabrogateany
20immunitydescribedinthissection,unlessitexpresslywaivesimmunity.
[Section36.l.ThisSectionshallbeknownas"TheRightto
2 ReproductiveFreedomInitiative".
3 2.TheGovernmentshallnotdenyorinfringeuponaperson's
4 fundamentalrighttoreproductivefreedom,whichistherighttomakeand
5 carryoutdecisionsaboutallmattersrelatingtoreproductivehealthcare,
6 includingbutnotlimitedtoprenatalcare,childbirth,postpartumcare,birth
7 control,abortioncare,miscarriagecare,andrespectfulbirthingconditions.
8 3.Therighttoreproductivefreedomshallnotbedenied,interfered
9 with,delayed,orotherwiserestrictedunlesstheGovernmentdemonstratesthat
10 suchactionisjustifiedbyacompellinggovernmentalinterestachievedbythe
11 leastrestrictivemeans.Anydenial,interference,delay,orrestrictionofthe
12 righttoreproductivefreedomshallbepresumedinvalid.Forpurposesofthis
13 Section,agovernmentalinterestiscompellingonlyifitisforthelimited
14 purposeandhasthelimitedeffectofimprovingormaintainingthehealthofa
15 personseekingcare,isconsistentwithwidelyacceptedclinicalstandardsof
16 practiceandevidence-basedmedicine,anddoesnotinfringeonthatperson's
17 autonomousdecision-making.
18 4.Notwithstandingsubsection3ofthisSection,thegeneralassembly
19 mayenactlawsthatregulatetheprovisionofabortionafterFetalViability
20 providedthatundernocircumstanceshalltheGovernmentdeny,interfere
21 with,delay,orotherwiserestrictanabortionthatinthegoodfaithjudgmentof
22 atreatinghealthcareprofessionalisneededtoprotectthelifeorphysicalor
23 mentalhealthofthepregnantperson.
24 5.Nopersonshallbepenalized,prosecuted,orotherwisesubjectedto
25 adverseactionbasedontheiractual,potential,perceived,orallegedpregnancy
26 outcomes,includingbutnotlimitedtomiscarriage,stillbirth,orabortion.Nor
HJR39 7 27 shallanypersonassistingapersoninexercisingtheirrighttoreproductive
28 freedomwiththatperson'sconsentbepenalized,prosecuted,orotherwise
29 subjectedtoadverseactionfordoingso.
30 6.TheGovernmentshallnotdiscriminateagainstpersonsprovidingor
31 obtainingreproductivehealthcareorassistinganotherpersonindoingso.
32 7.IfanyprovisionofthisSectionortheapplicationthereoftoanyone
33 ortoanycircumstanceisheldinvalid,theremainderofthoseprovisionsand
34 theapplicationofsuchprovisionstoothersorothercircumstancesshallnotbe
35 affectedthereby.
36 8.ForpurposesofthisSection,thefollowingtermsmean:
37 (1)"FetalViability",thepointinpregnancywhen,inthegoodfaith
38 judgmentofatreatinghealthcareprofessionalandbasedontheparticular
39 factsofthecase,thereisasignificantlikelihoodofthefetus'ssustained
40 survivaloutsidetheuteruswithouttheapplicationofextraordinarymedical
41 measures.
42 (2)"Government",
43 a.thestateofMissouri;or
44 b.anymunicipality,city,town,village,township,district,authority,
45 publicsubdivisionorpubliccorporationhavingthepowertotaxorregulate,or
46 anyportionoftwoormoresuchentitieswithinthestateofMissouri.]
âś”
HJR39 8