Amendment 3: Repeal 2024 abortion-rights amendmentRepeal the 2024 abortion-rights amendment; ban gender transition care for minors
Read the full text of the measure: Secretary of State 2026 ballot measures page
In plain words
In 2024 voters added a right to abortion up to fetal viability (the point when a fetus could live outside the womb) to the Missouri Constitution. This amendment, written by the Legislature, would remove that right. Abortion would be allowed only in medical emergencies, for fetal anomalies (serious problems with the fetus), and for rape or incest before 12 weeks. Lawmakers could pass laws regulating abortion, minors would need a parent's consent, and gender transition procedures for minors would be banned in the constitution. (thepitchkc.com )
Before and after
| Question | Today | If it passes |
|---|---|---|
| Abortion as a constitutional right | Yes, up to fetal viability (2024 amendment) | No; the 2024 amendment is repealed |
| When abortion is allowed | Up to fetal viability | Medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, and rape or incest under 12 weeks |
| Parental consent for minors | Not in the constitution | Required by the constitution (parent or judge) |
| Gender transition procedures for minors | Banned by a 2023 state law that ends in 2027 | Banned by the constitution, with exceptions for specific medical conditions |
Numbers from the official ballot title (ballot title ); also see (sos.mo.gov (Missouri Secretary of State) )
Biggest change
- Repeals Article I, Section 36, the 2024 voter-approved right to reproductive health care, including abortion up to fetal viability. source: sos.mo.gov (Missouri Secretary of State)
- Allows abortion only for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, and rape or incest under 12 weeks of pregnancy, and lets lawmakers regulate abortion providers. source: sos.mo.gov (Missouri Secretary of State)
- Requires parental or judicial consent for minors' abortions and bars public funding of abortion except in limited cases. source: sos.mo.gov (Missouri Secretary of State)
- Bans gender transition surgeries, cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers for minors, with exceptions for specific medical conditions. A 2023 state law already bans this but ends in 2027. source: ky3.com
Who it affects most: People who are or may become pregnant, abortion providers, and minors seeking gender transition care and their families.
Cost to the state: State agencies estimate no costs or savings. Greene County estimates an unknown increase in tax revenue. The measure does not raise or lower taxes.
Our plain-words summary. Every line points to its source.
What your vote means
The 2024 abortion-rights amendment is repealed; abortion is allowed only in emergencies, for fetal anomalies, and for rape or incest before 12 weeks, and gender transition care for minors is banned in the constitution.
The 2024 amendment stays, so abortion remains a constitutional right up to fetal viability; minors' gender transition care stays banned only by a state law set to end in 2027.
Our one-line summary. Missouri does not publish an official "what your vote means" statement; the ballot title above is the official description.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
The Legislature put this on the ballot. It changes the state constitution, so only another statewide vote can change it back. It passes with a simple majority of the votes cast on it.
- Voters passed the 2024 abortion-rights amendment (also called Amendment 3) with 52% of the vote. source: ky3.com
- Lawmakers passed this repeal in 2025. A state appeals court rewrote the ballot wording in December 2025 after finding the Secretary of State's version did not clearly tell voters a yes vote would repeal abortion rights. Gov. Mike Kehoe kept it on the November 2026 ballot. source: thepitchkc.com
- Abortion procedures are available again at Planned Parenthood clinics in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis; medication abortion remains largely unavailable while a state court decides which regulations are allowed under the 2024 amendment (as of May 2026). source: thepitchkc.com
Why supporters want it
- Amanda Sanders, spokesperson for the Her Health, Her Future campaign, says voters in 2024 "didn't know the parade of issues that would follow that," and that the gender transition ban would be "permanently protected in the Missouri Constitution." source: ky3.com
- Mike Hafner, an adviser to Her Health, Her Future PAC, says its mission is to "defend the dignity of human life." Supporters say it restores limits removed in 2024 while keeping exceptions for emergencies, fetal anomalies, and rape or incest. source: thepitchkc.com
Why opponents object
- Tori Schafer, an ACLU of Missouri lawyer speaking for Stop the Ban Missouri, says it "is an abortion ban that takes away a woman's right to make her own medical decisions," and that combining two topics is meant to "trick Missouri voters." source: thepitchkc.com
- Emily Wales of Stop the Ban says "people feel like this has been resolved" and that voters "don't want politicians undermining the will of the people." source: ky3.com
Who backs each side
- For: Her Health, Her Future PAC (treasurer: First Lady Claudia Kehoe; backed by Gov. Mike Kehoe), just over $1 million raised as of early August 2026; Missouri Right to Life PAC had spent about $230,000. source: kcur.org
- Against: Stop the Ban Missouri, a coalition including Abortion Action Missouri, the ACLU of Missouri, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action, PROMO and The Fairness Project; more than $6.5 million raised as of Aug. 9, 2026, including $1.25 million from Michael Bloomberg. source: kcur.org
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
The official ballot title, word for word from the Secretary of State's official ballot measure list .
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: Repeal the 2024 voter-approved Amendment providing reproductive healthcare rights, including abortion through fetal viability; Allow abortions for rape and incest (under twelve-weeks’ gestation), emergencies, and fetal anomalies; Allow legislation regulating abortion; Ensure parental consent for minors’ abortions; Prohibit gender transition procedures for minors? State governmental entities estimate no costs or savings. Greene County estimates it may experience an unknown increase in tax revenue. Other local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
YES
NO
Copied word for word from the Secretary of State's 2026 ballot measures page (official ballot title). Your sample ballot is the final word.
Latest news
Recent reporting from a range of outlets, newest first. We link to it; we don't endorse it.
No articles collected yet for this measure.
Full text of the measure
Full text: HCS HJR 73 as passed (house.mo.gov PDF, linked from the Secretary of State's page; not opened in this session). Read it in the Secretary of State 2026 ballot measures page , or on the Legislature's page for HCS HJR 73, 103rd General Assembly, First Regular Session , which also shows the votes in each chamber.
Read more
- Secretary of State: 2026 ballot measures (official ballot titles and fair ballot language)
- The Pitch / Missouri Independent: campaign against Amendment 3 launches
- KY3: what Amendment 3 would do
- KCUR: Amendment 3 fundraising
We link to analysis from several sources; we don't endorse it.