2026
Since passage of a state constitutional amendment on abortion in 2024 (with a 3.2% margin), abortion advocates have used the amendment to preliminarily block multiple Missouri statutes, including gestational limits on the performance of an abortion; prohibitions on sex-selective, race-selective, and Down Syndrome abortions; a requirement that abortion providers have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals; informed consent laws; a prohibition on telemedicine abortions; abortion-facility licensure laws; and a 72-hour waiting period.
The pro-life side has successfully obtained certification of Amendment 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot this November 2026. According to the Missouri Catholic Conference, “the ‘new’ Amendment 3 would amend the Missouri Constitution to guarantee access to care for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages; limit abortions to medical emergencies, fatal fetal anomalies, rape, and incest; restore health and safety standards for abortion clinics; ensure parental consent for minors; prohibit public funding of abortions except in limited circumstances; and, protect children from gender-transition treatments and procedures.”
National Review reports that opponents of the measure have received significantly more funding. Stop the Ban, which opposes Amendment 3, received approximately $20 million, while Her Health, Her Future PAC, which supports it, received $3 million.
At a recent rally, a representative of the pro-life Her Health, Her Future coalition said: “We lost (in 2024) because not enough of God’s people took the time to vote . . . And if we lose this time, it will be because not enough of God’s people took the time to vote.”
Kathleen Lavery, communications director of the Missouri Catholic Conference, expressed a similar viewpoint to EWTN News when she said: “This amendment’s really going to come down to which side can activate its base and get people to the polls.” She said, “I’m very cautiously optimistic . . . I think we have a very good chance of winning this.”
2025
Last year Missouri citizens voted to pass an initiative that amended the state constitution, inserting in it a right to abortion.
On May 14, 2025, the state legislature passed a resolution that seeks to place commonsense health and safety regulations on abortion as well as protections for minors with parent’s right to know guidelines. The language also specifically allows for women to access the necessary care in cases of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
The resolution has been sent to the Secretary of State. If the governor does not object, this proposed language is expected to appear on the ballot for the November 2026 general election.
While not banning abortion, the proposed resolution would permit abortions in cases of medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape, or incest. However, there would be a 12-week limit for abortions performed because of rape or incest. No public funding for abortion would be permitted except in cases of medical emergency, rape, incest, or otherwise authorized by law. Except for emergency circumstances, the voluntary and informed consent of the woman would need to be obtained. Fetal organ harvesting after an abortion would not be permitted, nor would gender transition drugs and surgeries for those under 18 years of age.
This is an opportunity to add health and safety protections for mothers and their preborn children back into the state constitution.
2024
Initially several possible ballot initiatives were introduced to amend the state constitution for the purpose of establishing a broad right to abortion, but the single version eventually settled on would establish a right to unregulated abortions, remove regulations on abortion that were currently in law, and after viability allow for broad exceptions for the life or health of the woman. On November 5, 2024, the voters of Missouri passed Amendment 3 with 52% approval.
Governor Michael Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson, the Bishops of Missouri and many others pro-lifers highlighted the extreme nature of the initiative, asking people to pray and act! The passage of this amendment will likely bring many lawsuits, with abortion providers challenging a number of current state laws, including the state’s abortion ban that allows abortions only in cases of medical emergencies.
Inserting a right to abortion in a state constitution is not the end of the action being taken by abortion activists. See the article in The Federalist about how far abortion proponents want to go.
