Overview
- The Western District Court of Appeals certified new ballot language stating the amendment would repeal the voter‑approved 2024 reproductive‑rights amendment and listing limited abortion exceptions and other provisions.
- The court found Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ prior wording misleading for implying new guarantees of care and ruled he will not get a third try despite a law allowing up to three attempts.
- The certified text specifies abortions could be allowed for rape or incest under 12 weeks, medical emergencies, and fetal anomalies, permits legislative regulation, requires parental consent for minors, and bans gender‑transition procedures for minors.
- Judges said the measure does not violate Missouri’s single‑subject rule, reasoning that gender‑transition treatments may be connected to reproductive health care.
- The ruling follows arguments heard less than a day earlier, and the ACLU of Missouri said voters must be clearly told they are being asked to end existing protections.