JEFFERSON CITY — Five months after Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved a boost in the minimum wage and a paid leave plan, Republican lawmakers moved Tuesday to repeal the law.

One day before business groups opposed to the voter-approved increases are set to appear before the Missouri Supreme Court to try and strike down the changes via the judicial branch, Rep. Sherri Gallick, R-Belton, convinced her GOP colleagues to jettison the changes in a legislative maneuver.

“This is a one, two punch to businesses,” Gallick said. “This could be very harmful to the business community.”

The measure, which won first round approval in the House Tuesday on a voice vote, awaits a formal roll call Thursday before it moves to the Senate for further debate.

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Proposition A was approved by 57% of the state’s voters in November. It requires employers with yearly business receipts greater than $500,000 to provide at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Companies with fewer than 15 workers must allow workers to use at least 40 hours per year, with larger employers mandated to allow at least 56 hours.

The ballot initiative also increased the state minimum wage. It was set at $13.75 on Jan. 1 and will increase to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026. After that, it will be adjusted for inflation.

Gallick’s proposal would delay the minimum wage increase to 2028 and repeal a provision tying future increases to inflation.

Gallick, a former executive in the food manufacturing industry, said most states surrounding Missouri have lower minimum wages. And, she said, the sick leave mandate increases the workload on other employees.

“One size does not fit all. What works for a restaurant may not work for a call center,” Gallick said.

Republicans said they had no problem overturning the will of the voters.

“We cannot keep putting it on the back of small business owners. They are the ones that make the state click,” said Rep. Bill Falkner, R-St. Joseph.

“Just because 57% of the people that voted that day doesn’t make it right,” said Rep. Scott Miller, R-St. Charles.

Opponents of the legislation said voters in both rural and urban areas supported the ballot question.

“This isn’t a situation where Proposition A just passed in the cities,” said Rep. Eric Woods, D-Kansas City.

Woods added that it will provide security to workers.

“So many of us have had jobs where if you miss a shift you don’t know how you will make rent,” Woods said. “This is a quality-of-life issue.”

“I strongly disapprove of this bill,” added Rep. Marlene Terry, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors.

Action in the House comes as attorneys for business groups are set to ask the Missouri Supreme Court Wednesday to toss out the results of the election, saying the ballot measure was constitutionally flawed.

Under the state constitution, questions must be limited to a single subject. Opponents say the proposal made multiple changes to the minimum wage, paid sick leave and paid domestic violence leave.

The business groups also argued the measure’s fiscal note was flawed, with some costs not included in the summary given to voters.

Oral arguments are set to begin at 9 a.m.

The legislation is Hous e Bill 567.