Amendment 3 is the most controversial bill on your November ballot.

Amendment 3 has two subjects. First, it has provisions dealing with abortion and secondly it moves to the constitution the language of the statute that bans gender transitioning of minors.

There is a lot of emotion and misinformation circulating about this bill. It does state that abortion is acceptable in cases where the life of the mother is at risk, rape or incest.

Abortion is not specifically outlawed in this bill.

Voting yes for Amendment 3 will:

•Repeal the 2024 voter-approved Amendment providing reproductive healthcare rights, including abortion through fetal viability;

• Allow abortions for rape and incest (under twelve-weeks’ gestation), emergencies, and fetal anomalies;

• Allow the state legislature to create statute legislation regulating abortion;

• Ensure parental consent for minors’ abortions;

• Prohibit public funding of abortions except in limited circumstances.

The gender transition of minors is currently outlawed in statute. Some of those provisions expire in 2027. Amendment 3 would move that section of statute law into the constitution and nullify the expiration of those provisions.

Both the current statute and proposed amendment bans gender transition surgeries, cross-sex hormones and puberty-blocking drugs, with exceptions for specific medical conditions.

The best argument for A3 is: “If it saves 1 life, we should take this step”

Voting no for Amendment 3 will:

• Leave Article I, Section 36, of the Missouri Constitution approved by voters in 2024 in place; will not limit abortion to cases of medical emergency, rape and incest under twelve weeks gestation, and fetal anomalies, but leave access to abortion available through fetal viability; will not prohibit gender transition procedures for minors.

A compelling argument against A3 is: “Amendment 3 is not written as a prohibition on abortion. It repeals bad language, yes, but then literally adds language giving permission to end the lives of certain people. No other state constitution is written like this. The framework combination of permission to kill and a list of people excluded from constitutional protections is unprecedented.”

Very good people support and oppose this bill for a variety of valid reasons.

Please read the actual amendment before you vote. It is published in your newspaper and available online at https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026ballotmeasures

November 3 is election day.