In a bold move to protect unborn life, Missouri’s Republican-led legislature passed a referendum Wednesday that, if approved by voters, would repeal a recently enacted abortion amendment and restore protections for unborn babies.
The measure, which allows very narrow exceptions, aims to reverse what pro-life advocates call an “extreme” constitutional change approved by voters just six months ago.
The referendum, known as House Joint Resolution 73, seeks to undo Amendment 3, a measure passed in November 2024 with 52% voter support that enshrined abortion in Missouri’s constitution after millions of dollars of false ads misled voters. Pro-life lawmakers and advocates argue that Amendment 3 opened the door to unrestricted abortions, undermining protections for the unborn and parental rights. The new proposal would ban most abortions, reinforcing Missouri’s historical commitment to valuing life from conception.
Missouri Right ot Life hailed the measure and told LifeNews:
“Yesterday, May 14, 2025 the Missouri Senate used a rare procedural move called a PQ (Previous Question) to shut down a pro-abortion filibuster and advance HCS HJR 73 to the Secretary of State’s office to be placed on the 2026 ballot. Unless Governor Kehoe calls a special session for an earlier vote, the voters of Missouri will have the ultimate voice in November of 2026 to determine if abortion on demand, all 9 months of pregnancy for any reason, stays in the Missouri Constitution.”
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When Judge Zhang removed all safety regulations from Missouri Statutes in a lawsuit against the State of Missouri, women and babies became more in harm’s way than ever before. These now-overturned safety regulations were put in place because Planned Parenthood in Missouri has a recorded history of the following, but not limited to these items: dirty abortion facilities, dried bloody equipment, rusty equipment, expired drugs and unqualified personnel. Without oversight, how long would it be before Planned Parenthood reverts back to these abhorrent safety hazards? And because of Amendment 3, our Missouri Constitution would prevent a woman from suing anyone associated with their abortion for any reason.
Missouri Right to Life and many pro-life volunteers worked tirelessly to prevent Amendment 3 from passing. Amazingly we only lost by 1.6% even though foreign and out-of-state monies were spent against us by pro-abortion supporters at a difference of $30 million dollars to $3 million.
The passage of the referendum marks a strategic shift for Missouri’s pro-life movement, which faced a setback with Amendment 3’s approval.
The referendum also includes provisions to prohibit gender transition surgeries, hormone treatments, and puberty blockers for minors, a move pro-life supporters say aligns with protecting young people from irreversible medical decisions.
Protesters chanted “Stop the ban!” in the Senate chamber after the vote, and a coalition of abortion organizations vowed a vigorous campaign to defeat the referendum at the ballot box.
If voters approve the referendum, Missouri would become the first state to enact a pro-life constitutional amendment after passing an abortion measure, setting a potential precedent for other states. The measure’s success hinges on a public campaign, with pro-life groups expressing confidence that the exceptions for rape and incest will sway voters who supported Amendment 3.
The referendum now heads to the ballot, where Missourians will decide the fate of abortion policy in the state. For pro-life advocates, it represents a critical opportunity to restore protections for the unborn and reaffirm Missouri’s commitment to life.
