A large group gathered Saturday in the North Pointe neighborhood near Goodfellow Boulevard and West Florissant Avenue ahead of the Aug. 4 primary election to rally against two statewide ballot measures — Missouri Amendments 4 and 5. Another large group gathered in St. Charles for similar demonstrations during the “Good Trouble Weekend of Action,” organized by Get Out the Vote.
Speaking with FOX 2 STL+, Ruth Huebner of Abortion Action Missouri said the rallies were intended to help voters understand the measures “so that they can make an informed choice and defend the right to equal opportunities across our state.”
The two constitutional amendments, both referred to voters by the Missouri General Assembly, would make significant changes to state law. Amendment 4 would change how citizen-led constitutional amendments are approved. Amendment 5 would begin a process that could eventually eliminate Missouri’s individual income tax.
Amendment 4
Amendment 4 would change the rules for passing citizen-led constitutional amendments while also adding provisions dealing with foreign campaign contributions and petition fraud.
The proposal comes as citizen groups continue using Missouri’s initiative petition process to place constitutional amendments before voters. Last year, the nonprofit People Not Politicians Missouri submitted more than 305,000 petition signatures seeking to block Missouri’s new congressional map from being used in the 2026 elections.
If approved, future citizen-proposed constitutional amendments would have to win both a statewide majority and majority support in each of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. Constitutional amendments referred to voters by lawmakers would continue to require only a simple statewide majority.
Richard von Glahn, campaign director for People Not Politicians and policy and political director for Missouri Jobs with Justice, called Amendment 4 “an attempt to end majority rule.”
“In trying to create a different standard for citizens than politicians for passing laws, politicians are showing their contempt for the people of Missouri in this brazen power grab,” von Glahn said.
Supporters, including the Missouri Farm Bureau and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, say the proposal would protect Missouri’s Constitution from well-funded, out-of-state interests while requiring petition campaigns to build broader statewide support.
Opponents, including Respect MO Voters and the Missouri Association of Realtors, argue the proposal gives unequal weight to congressional districts and makes it harder for citizens than lawmakers to amend the Missouri Constitution.
Amendment 5
Amendment 5, known as the Income Tax Elimination and Sales Tax Changes Amendment, would gradually phase out Missouri’s individual income tax if state revenue growth meets benchmarks in the proposal. To replace lost revenue, lawmakers could expand or modify sales taxes and other revenue sources.
Mailers, television commercials and advertisements on Black-oriented radio stations have promoted the measure with a simple promise: “Pass Amendment 5, and we’ll all have an extra $3,000 in our pockets.”
Gov. Mike Kehoe and conservative groups, including Americans for Prosperity-Missouri, contend the amendment would make Missouri more competitive, attract new businesses and residents, and leave more money in workers’ paychecks. Earlier this year, The St. Louis American quoted state Rep. John Martin, a Republican from Columbia, who called the proposal a “historic opportunity.”
“We have a historic opportunity to help Missourians to have more take-home pay, and they can choose to spend that,” Martin said.
Critics see it differently.
Sarah Narkiewicz, director of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at Washington University, said Missouri would still have to generate enough revenue to pay for schools, health care, transportation and public safety. Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat, called the proposal “the largest sales tax increase in state history” and warned it would disproportionately affect seniors, many of whom no longer pay state income taxes on Social Security benefits.
The Missouri Budget Project disputes campaign claims that most Missourians would come out ahead financially, estimating that between 60% and 80% of residents could see a net tax increase if Missouri relies more heavily on sales taxes to replace income tax revenue.
Health care advocates have also joined the opposition. Dr. Priya Pal, a physician-scientist specializing in HIV research, said shifting more of the tax burden to sales taxes could make medical care less affordable.
“As physicians, we see every day what happens when health care becomes unaffordable,” Pal said. “People delay appointments, skip medications, postpone screenings and arrive sicker than they otherwise would have.”
Opponents also argue the proposal would temporarily suspend some protections of Missouri’s Hancock Amendment by allowing lawmakers to make major changes to the state’s sales tax structure during the transition away from the income tax without another statewide vote. Supporters respond that the amendment gives lawmakers the flexibility needed to modernize Missouri’s tax system while reducing income taxes as state revenues grow.
Missouri voters will decide both constitutional amendments in the Aug. 4 primary election.
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.