Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins / sos.mo.gov
In the wake of a radical abortion amendment to the Missouri state constitution that passed with vague and emotional messaging, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is advocating for a new amendment that would “correct course” and improve pro-life protections.
Many who voted “yes” on the pro-abortion Amendment 3 in 2024 “believed they were supporting limited access to abortion in rare or tragic cases,” Hoskins wrote in a July 10 op-ed for the Missouri Times. “Instead, they enacted one of the most extreme and ambiguous abortion policies in the nation, written directly into our state’s most foundational and sacrosanct legal document.”
Hoskins explained that advocates of the amendment presented it as “moderate,” even though it stripped away parental supervision requirements and paved the way for taxpayer-funded, late-term abortions with few restrictions.
The amendment’s passage underscores that “it is far too easy to amend Missouri’s Constitution,” which can be permanently altered based on a majority vote, Hoskins wrote. “That’s how Section 36 passed: millions of dollars from out-of-state groups, emotionally charged messaging, and vague legal language led to a radical policy being cemented into our Constitution.”
However, House Joint Resolution 73 (HJR 73), advanced by the Missouri House in April, could walk back Amendment 3’s radical provisions, according to Hoskins.
HJR 73 “gives voters the chance to restore a common-sense, pro-life framework — one that protects both women and unborn children, respects parental rights, and reaffirms Missouri’s long-held values,” Hoskins said. “If approved by voters in 2026, HJR 73 will appear on the ballot as a new Amendment 3. This proposal is not a ban — it is a safeguard. It restores medical standards and reasonable limits and allows exceptions in tragic cases, including rape, incest, and threats to the life of the mother. It ensures Missouri’s laws reflect the will of a broad, responsible majority — not activist-driven campaigns designed to mislead and confuse.”
Hoskins vowed to guarantee that voters have “clear and accurate information about every measure on the ballot” through his role as secretary of state.
“Missouri’s Constitution should not be treated as a testing ground for extreme or temporary policy changes,” he concluded. “It should reflect our deepest and most lasting values — and protect those who cannot protect themselves.”
