Legislative Update: Constitutional amendments approved, new legislative leadership

2022 Ballot Measures

Missouri voters approved three of the five measures appearing on the November general election ballot.  Pursuant to section 2(b) of article XII of the Constitution of Missouri, the amendments approved by the voters shall take effect at the end of thirty days after the election (Dec. 8, 2022).

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 1. – Proposed by the 101st General Assembly, First Regular Session (HCS HJR 35)    
Relating to the state treasurer’s ability to invest    
For – 894,056; Against – 1,061,253    (Unofficial Election Results)

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 3 – Proposed by initiative petition (IP 2022–059)    
Marijuana legalization and expungement of criminal records    
For – 1,089,326; Against – 961,909    (Unofficial Election Results)

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 4 – Proposed by the 101st General Assembly, Second Regular Session (SS #2 SJR 38)    
Relating to the funding of law enforcement agencies    
For – 1,265,938; Against – 735,835    (Unofficial Election Results)

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 5 – Proposed by the 101st General Assembly, Second Regular Session (HJR 116)    
Relating to the state Department of the National Guard    
For – 1,193,908; Against – 788,184    (Unofficial Election Results)

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION QUESTION    
For – 632,200; Against – 1,324,937    (Unofficial Election Results)   
 

102nd General Assembly

Composition of the General Assembly

Republicans will retain supermajorities in both the Senate and House. Based on the unofficial election results, when the 102nd General Assembly convenes on Jan. 4, 2023, the partisan alignment of the legislature will be:

Legislative Leadership

After every general election, each chamber’s party caucuses meet to elect their leadership, including nominees for Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, who are constitutional officers.  The official elections for the Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate will occur in each chamber on the first day of the new legislative session (Jan. 4, 2023). 

Representative Dean Plocher was elected as speaker designate on Sept. 20, 2021, over a year ago.  On Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, the House Republican caucus voted for its remaining leadership positions.  On Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, House Democrats and Senate Republicans and Democrats met to elect their leadership. 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SENATE

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Lawyer-Legislators

The net number of lawyer-legislators in the Missouri Senate will increase by one, while the number in the House will remain static. 

Federal and Statewide Offices

At the top of the ticket, Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R) defeated Trudy Busch Valentine (D) to succeed Roy Blunt as United States senator from Missouri.  In addition, State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick defeated a former state representative, Dr. Alan Green, to become State Auditor-elect.  Following the 2018 general election, where Attorney General Josh Hawley was elected United States senator, Governor Mike Parson appointed State Treasurer Eric Schmitt to be Attorney General and Representative Scott Fitzpatrick to be State Treasurer.  Pursuant to sections 105.050 and 30.070, RSMo, when Attorney General Schmitt and State Treasurer Fitzpatrick resign to assume their new offices, Governor Parson will appoint successors to serve the remaining two years of their terms.    

The partisan alignment of Missouri’s congressional delegation will remain the same, with two Democrats and six Republicans in the U.S. House and two Republicans in the Senate. However, with three open seats this cycle, the members of the delegation have changed slightly.   

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