Missouri Senate committee debates SJR 33 to put reproductive-health amendment before voters

The Missouri Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee debated Senate Joint Resolution 33 on Wednesday in Jefferson City. Sen. Adam Schnelting of Saint Charles sponsored the measure, which would place a proposed constitutional amendment relating to reproductive health care before Missouri voters.

The proposal must be approved by the General Assembly and then again by voters to take effect, a point senators emphasized during the committee discussion. Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern of Kansas City said there had been time to review the ballot language before voters went to the polls in November. "There was plenty of time to review the ballot language before people went to the polls in November," Nurrenbern said.

An unidentified senator questioned whether committee members were aware that a court had prepared the ballot summary presented to voters. "Senator, are you aware that the court wrote a ballot summary that was found to be fair, just, impartial, and that is what was presented to the voters," the senator asked.

The transcript also records a mention of "final committee action" on SJR 33, but it does not specify what that action was or the result of any vote. The committee discussion took place as lawmakers approach the scheduled end of the first regular session; a reporter on the record noted the session will end on May 16.

SJR 33 would place a constitutional amendment before voters; if the General Assembly approves it, the amendment would appear on a future ballot and require voter approval to become law. The transcript does not supply the precise text of SJR 33, nor does it record a vote tally or the committee's formal disposition of the resolution.