Committee hears HJR 54 to narrow Amendment 3; sponsor proposes 12‑week police‑report rule for rape, incest

Representative Melanie Stennett, the sponsor of House Joint Resolution 54, defended her proposal before the Missouri House Committee on Children and Families, saying the measure would send revised language to the ballot to clarify and limit parts of Amendment 3.

"HJR 54 allows for abortions in the case of medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, rape, or incest," Stennett told the committee. "And in the cases of rape and incest, the abortion would need to be performed no later than 12 weeks gestation with documentation of that rape or incest being reported to law enforcement."

The committee hearing, which drew more than two hours of public testimony, split largely along familiar lines. Supporters of HJR 54—many describing themselves as pro‑life or concerned that Amendment 3’s language was broad or ambiguous—said the resolution would clarify that public funds cannot pay for most abortions, would bar disability‑selective abortions (except for defined fetal anomalies), and would prohibit gender‑affirming surgeries or related drugs for minors. Samuel Lee, a registered lobbyist with Campaign Life Missouri, told the committee he was "shocked" by a court injunction he said interpreted Amendment 3 to allow abortions for…