Full Breakdown
Missouri Primary Election Puts Tax Overhaul and Initiative Reform on Ballot
8/4/2026, 10:41:18 PM
Core Event: August 2026 primary places Amendments 4 and 5 before voters
Missouri voters will decide on two constitutional amendments in the August 2026 primary. Amendment 4 would require citizen-initiated constitutional changes to win a majority in each of the state’s eight congressional districts rather than a statewide majority. Amendment 5 would mandate a legislative phase-out of the state individual income tax and give lawmakers authority to raise sales and use taxes to replace the lost revenue. Both measures have the backing of Republican Governor Mike Kehoe and were highlighted as priorities of his administration.
Background & Context
The initiative petition process currently lets Missouri citizens place amendments on the ballot after gathering enough signatures statewide; past successful initiatives include recreational marijuana, sports betting, and abortion rights. Amendment 4 would tighten that pathway, leaving legislative-proposed amendments unaffected.
Missouri’s budget relies heavily on the individual income tax, which funds roughly 60 % of general-revenue collections. The state’s sales tax sits at 4.225 %. Under the 1980 Hancock Amendment, any new or increased taxes generally require voter approval, and a revenue cap ties personal-income tax limits to overall tax limits.
Data & Statistics
- Income-tax share of revenue: 61 % (Missouri Independent analysis of 2024 voter rolls).
- Current sales-tax rate: 4.225 %.
- States without an income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Washington, New Hampshire, Tennessee.
- Proposed timeline: Lawmakers would have five years to enact new sales-tax measures after Amendment 5’s passage.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Kehoe has endorsed Amendment 5, arguing that Missouri needs a tax code that reflects the modern economy. In a July 23 Facebook post, he said the constitution “provides a definite safeguard” preventing the legislature from raising taxes beyond what is needed to offset income-tax refunds.
MO Tax Relief Now, a tax-advocacy organization, has campaigned for the amendment, emphasizing that the proposal would not force sales-tax rates to exceed neighboring Kansas (approximately 6.5 %).
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Revenue share discrepancy: Sources differ on the exact proportion of the budget funded by the income tax (61 % vs. 65 %).
- Tax-implementation details: Neither the amendment text nor campaign materials specify which goods or services would be subject to new sales taxes, leaving the fiscal impact uncertain.
- Economic projections: Proponents cite growth in states that have eliminated income taxes; opponents highlight the absence of a concrete replacement plan for Missouri’s revenue.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Constitutionally, this legislature can never change the tax code by one penny more than it is to offset the income tax refund that Missourians will get. So there is a definite safeguard there to make sure Missourians are protected,” — Gov. Mike Kehoe
- “One of the biggest misconceptions is that they've been told that their sales taxes are going to be 15 and 20 percent. And that's just not true,” — Dennis Ganahl, founder and CEO of MO Tax Relief Now
