Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has certified HJR 73, which seeks to amend the constitution to prohibit most abortions in Missouri. Abortions would be allowed for medical emergencies and for fetal anomalies any time throughout pregnancy and in cases of rape and incest up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. The measure will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot as Amendment 3.
If approved by voters, it would reinstate health and safety inspections at abortion facilities, require parental consent for minors receiving medical procedures, require physicians performing abortions to have nearby hospital admitting privileges, ensure access to care for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages and provide medical malpractice protections. The new ballot question also would amend the constitution to ban gender transition surgeries and prescribing medications for gender transition, including puberty blockers, for children younger than 18.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Hoskins for certifying what it said is “an intentionally misleading and inaccurate summary statement and fair ballot language.”
Meanwhile, a Jackson County judge on July 3 again blocked enforcement of most of Missouri’s abortion-related restrictions. Planned Parenthood said it would resume abortions in Kansas City on July 7. Attorney General Andrew Bailey said he would appeal the decision.
