# Missouri ballot amendment campaign > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/state-tax-amendment-efforts-encounter-rejection-and-legal-pushback > Updated: 2026-08-04T21:10:13.000Z. Sources: 37. Developments: 10. On August 4, 2026, Missouri voters participated in a primary that featured two high‑profile constitutional amendments and other measures. Amendment 5, backed by Governor Mike Kehoe and groups such as Americans for Prosperity Missouri, would phase out the individual income tax and permit the General Assembly to offset lost revenue with higher sales and use taxes; opponents warned it could cut per‑student K‑12 funding. Amendment 4, which would have required citizen‑initiated amendments to win a majority in each of the state’s eight congressional districts as well as statewide, was defeated by a wide margin, preserving the existing statewide‑majority threshold. The Missouri Association of REALTORS spent $1.9 million supporting the “Missourians for Fair Taxation” campaign against Amendment 5, joining teachers, seniors and consumer‑advocacy groups. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins announced he would not certify a citizens’ referendum that sought to overturn the GOP‑drawn “Missouri First” congressional map, deeming the effort unconstitutional. The petition had gathered more than 300,000 signatures, far exceeding the roughly 106,000 required. Hoskins said the challenge was “insufficient based on its unconstitutionality.” The group People Not Politicians Missouri said it will sue to place the referendum on the ballot. Voters also rejected Amendment 5, keeping the state income‑tax system intact, and opponents of Amendment 4 outspent its supporters by more than $6 million on broadcast advertising. ## Claims - Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins refused to certify a referendum seeking to undo the GOP‑drawn congressional map, deeming it unconstitutional. (corroborated by 8 sources) - People Not Politicians Missouri announced it will challenge Hoskins’s decision in court. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The referendum petition gathered more than 300,000 signatures, exceeding the roughly 106,000 required. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The new congressional map is being used in the June primaries and will remain in effect for upcoming elections. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Missouri voters rejected Amendment 4, which would have required citizen‑initiated constitutional amendments to win a majority in each of the state’s eight congressional districts. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Amendment 4 would require citizen‑initiated constitutional amendments to receive a majority in all eight congressional districts to pass. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Amendment 4 was proposed by Republican state Rep. Ed Lewis. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Critics say Amendment 4 would make it nearly impossible for citizens to participate meaningfully in direct democracy. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-04: Missouri voters block GOP‑backed redistricting referendum and reject amendment tightening ballot‑initiative rules Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins barred a referendum to undo the GOP‑drawn congressional map, while voters rejected Amendment 4 to raise ballot‑initiative thresholds and Amendment 5 to eliminate the ‑ 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/missouri-secretary-of-state-denny-hoskins-blocks-referendum-on-gop-redrawn-congressional-map ### 2026-08-02: Missouri Voters to Decide on Nation’s Toughest Ballot Initiative Threshold Missouri voters consider Amendment 4, which would require citizen‑initiated constitutional changes to win in all eight congressional districts, creating the nation’s toughest ballot initiative threshold. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/missouri-voters-to-decide-on-nations-toughest-ballot-initiative-threshold ### 2026-07-30: Missouri proposes toughest citizen-initiative amendment standard Missouri’s Amendment 4 would require citizen‑initiated constitutional changes to win majorities in all eight congressional districts, a stricter standard than any other state. Governor Mike Kehoe backs it and a 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/missouri-proposes-toughest-citizen-initiative-amendment-standard ### 2026-07-28: Missouri Voters Oppose Amendments 4 and 5 Ahead of Aug. 4 Ballot Missouri voters face two ballot measures on Aug. 4: Amendment 4 would tighten initiative rules, and Amendment 5 would permit broader sales‑tax hikes, prompting calls for a “No” vote to protect citizen power and 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/missouri-voters-oppose-amendments-4-and-5-ahead-of-aug-4-ballot ### 2026-07-22: Missouri Voters Face Multiple Constitutional Amendments on August Ballot Missouri’s August ballot includes Amendment 4 tightening initiative thresholds, Amendment 3 tightening abortion and gender‑transition rules, and Amendment One extending the park and conservation sales tax. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/missouri-voters-face-multiple-constitutional-amendments-on-august-ballot ### 2026-07-09: Missouri voters face four statewide ballot measures in August 2026 Missouri's August 2026 ballot includes a $140 M conservation tax renewal, a charter‑county assessor election requirement, and a change to initiative‑petition approval rules, with organized opposition to the new 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/missouri-voters-face-four-statewide-ballot-measures-in-august-2026 ### 2026-06-30: Missouri pushes ballot measure to replace income tax with expanded sales taxes Missouri’s Amendment 5 seeks to eliminate the state income tax, replacing it with broader sales taxes under revenue‑neutral rules, sparking support and opposition ahead of the ballot. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/missouri-pushes-ballot-measure-to-replace-income-tax-with-expanded-sales-taxes ### 2026-06-05: Missouri appeals court revises ballot language for tax‑shift amendment Missouri's Court of Appeals rewrote ballot language for Amendment 5, which would phase out state income tax, expand sales taxes, and require local tax cuts if sales revenue rises, keeping the measure on the Aug 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/missouri-appeals-court-revises-ballot-language-for-taxshift-amendment ### 2026-06-03: Missouri Realtors Donate $1.9 Million to Block Amendment 5 Tax Change The Missouri Association of Realtors donated $1.9 million to oppose Amendment 5, a ballot measure that would scrap the state income tax and raise sales taxes, potentially up to 11.5 %, before the August vote. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/missouri-realtors-donate-19-million-to-block-amendment-5-tax-change ### 2026-05-15: Missouri tax amendment to cut income tax faces lawsuit, backlash Missouri's plan to replace the state income tax with higher sales taxes is being sued over ballot violations and draws public criticism. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/missouri-tax-amendment-to-cut-income-tax-faces-lawsuit-backlash --- Cite as: Missouri ballot amendment campaign. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/state-tax-amendment-efforts-encounter-rejection-and-legal-pushback