JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday in efforts to roll back parts of two voter-approved measures passed last year: One that enshrines abortion protections in the state constitution, and another that expands paid sick leave and raises the state’s minimum wage.

In November 2024, Missouri voters approved Amendment 3 – a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights – and Proposition A – a statutory measure aimed at strengthening workforce protections for pay and sick leave.

Now, more than six months later, the Missouri legislature has approved a referendum seeking to repeal Amendment 3 and a house bill aimed at undoing key provisions of Proposition A.

Earlier this year, a spokesperson from the Missouri Sec. of State’s Office told FOX 2 , that “There is no specific statutory protection in Missouri law that prevents lawmakers from challenging or altering voter-approved amendments or propositions.”

Because of that, Missouri law does not prohibit lawmakers from pursuing changes to voter-approved measures, even for proposals that voters directly approved.

Now that legislation has passed to challenge both Amendment 3 and Proposition A, at least in the forms approved by voters, many questions arise: What comes next? And what does the future hold for both measures?

The answers ultimately depend on how each measure appeared on the ballot.

Amendment 3, the abortion rights measure, was place on the November 2024 ballot as a constitutional amendment through the state’s initiative petition process. Under Missouri law, constitutional amendments can only be changed through joint resolutions passed by both chambers of the Missouri legislature, followed by Missouri voters for approval.

Since lawmakers approved House Joint Resolution 73 , an effort to repeal Amendment 3 could appear on the November 2026 ballot, or perhaps sooner if Gov. Mike Kehoe calls for a special election before then.

Meanwhile, voters initially approved Proposition A as a statutory measure, which unlike constitutional amendments, can be altered through standard legislative action. Lawmakers are attempting to do so through House Bill 567 .

While Proposition A is currently in effect, Gov. Kehoe could simply sign HB 567 into law without any other steps required, a move that could change its provisions as early as August 28.

In previous FOX 2 reports , some local election rights advocates argued that challenges to voter-approved measures often arise when the party in control of the state legislature opposes the outcome.

With that in mind, one advocacy group known as the Respect MO Voters Coalition began gathering public input in March a possible future constitutional amendment that would prevent Missouri lawmakers from overturning or weakening voter-approved measures, citing concerns with how the current setup undermines direct democracy and disregards to voice of voters.