Missouri Judge to Rule Monday on Tax Overhaul Amendment for August Ballot
A Cole County judge will decide Monday if Missouri voters can weigh in on replacing the state income tax with expanded sales taxes this August.
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI — A Cole County judge will decide Monday whether Missouri voters will have the chance to replace the state income tax with expanded sales taxes on the August 4 primary ballot.
Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh said Friday he would issue his ruling following a trial in the lawsuit challenging the proposed constitutional amendment. The decision must come by June 9, the legal deadline for courts to order changes to the August primary ballot under Missouri law.
Governor Mike Kehoe moved the measure, designated as Amendment 5, to the primary ballot last week. The proposal would grant lawmakers authority to expand sales taxes to any goods or services or increase tax rates without seeking voter approval.
Constitutional Challenge Centers on Single Subject Rule
Opponents of the tax overhaul filed the lawsuit arguing the proposal violates the Missouri Constitution’s prohibition on constitutional amendments that include more than one subject. If Limbaugh agrees with this argument, the measure would be removed from the ballot unless reversed on appeal.
The proposed amendment would restructure Missouri’s tax system by phasing out the state income tax while allowing lawmakers to impose new sales taxes. It would also exempt the new sales tax from requirements that motor fuel taxes go to highway funding.
Timeline Critical for August Election
The tight timeline means any appeals must be resolved quickly to meet the June 9 deadline for ballot changes. Attorneys emphasized Friday morning that this date is firm under Missouri law for the August 4 primary election.
Republican lawmakers passed the proposal during the legislative session, setting up what could be a significant change to how Missouri funds state government. The amendment would give the legislature broad authority over sales tax implementation without requiring future voter approval for expansions or rate increases.
If approved by voters, the tax overhaul would represent one of the most substantial changes to Missouri’s revenue structure in decades. The proposal has drawn opposition from groups concerned about the shift from income-based taxation to sales taxes, which critics argue disproportionately affect lower-income residents.
Judge Limbaugh’s Monday ruling will determine whether Missouri voters get the opportunity to decide on this tax restructuring plan in August or whether constitutional concerns will keep the measure off the ballot entirely.
