Missouri Advisory Opinions April 03, 2023: 203-2023

Advisory Opinion Text

The Honorable John R. Ashcroft

Missouri Secretary of State

James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center

600 West Main Street

Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Secretary Ashcroft:

This opinion letter responds to your request dated March 30, 2023, for our review under § 116.334, RSMo of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Harry Cooper, 2024-070. The proposed summary statement is as follows:

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:

• limit each legislator to sixteen years' overall service in the legislature, rather than eight years in the house plus eight years in the senate, and lower the limit to twelve years if voters' direct legislative power is reduced relative to 2022;

• prohibit the legislature from changing any voter-initiated law without a referendum at the general election or three-quarters' consent in the house and senate, unless more than seven years have passed since voters approved the law; and

• prohibit the legislature from proposing any measure reducing the voters' direct legislative power?

Pursuant to § 116.334, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed statement. Because our review of the statement is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the petition, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents.

Very truly yours,

ANDREW BAILEY Attorney General