Missouri Senate Bill SB1295

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/7/26
• Introduced: 12/31/69
• Refer: 1/27/26

Caption

Establishes filing fees for certain initiative petitions

Impact

The implementation of SB 1295 is expected to impact state laws relating to the political process, particularly concerning how citizens can initiate legislation or referendums. The bill's introduction of a $1000 filing fee for subsequent initiative petitions may serve as a financial barrier for some petitioners. However, this fee is waived for first-time petitions on specific subjects, potentially mitigating the impact on grassroots efforts to engage in the legislative process. This change in regulation could streamline the submission process for petitions, but may also lead to concerns regarding accessibility and the ability for various groups to have their initiatives represented.

Summary

Senate Bill 1295 seeks to establish a new framework for initiative and referendum petitions in the state of Missouri. Under the proposed legislation, the current section 116.050 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri will be repealed and replaced with a new section that outlines specific requirements for petition filings. Notably, the bill mandates that all initiative and referendum petitions must consist of uniformly sized pages and include full and accurate texts of the proposed measures alongside existing laws that would be repealed by the measures if enacted. This aims to enhance transparency and ensure proper formatting for submitted petitions.

Contention

A notable point of contention around SB 1295 is the implementation of the filing fee, which some critics argue could limit the voices and initiatives of smaller organizations and individual citizens who may lack the financial resources to pay this fee. Proponents of the fee argue that it is a reasonable measure to ensure that only serious proposals are submitted, potentially preventing frivolous or inadequately prepared petitions from consuming state resources. Discussions surrounding this bill may elicit concerns about equity in the political process and how filing fees may disproportionately affect marginalized communities trying to advocate for change.