Missouri Business Groups Challenge Voter-Approved Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Law

A lawsuit filed with the Missouri Supreme Court claims the ballot measure violates constitutional rules and misled voters.

Missouri business organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce and restaurant associations, have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn Proposition A, which was approved by 57.6% of voters in November 2024.
The measure raises the state minimum wage from $12.30 to $13.75 in January 2025, with an increase to $15 by 2026, and mandates up to seven paid sick days annually for eligible workers starting May 2025.
The lawsuit argues that Proposition A violates a state constitutional requirement that ballot measures address only one issue, citing its inclusion of both wage increases and sick leave provisions.
Plaintiffs claim the ballot summaries and fiscal notes presented to voters were misleading, failing to disclose exemptions for government employees and small businesses making under $500,000 annually.
The legal challenge follows a trend of Republican-led opposition to progressive ballot measures in Missouri, including those on abortion rights and Medicaid expansion, with critics targeting the initiative petition process.