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MISSOURI AUGUST 4, 2026 PRIMARY BALLOT
Amendment 1 – Continue the Conservation Sales Tax
Key Concerns
- Extends the current sales tax for another 10 years.
- Keeps funding permanently dedicated instead of reviewed through the annual budget.
- Sales taxes are paid by everyone, including lower-income families.
Key Benefits
- Continues funding for state parks, historic sites, and soil & water conservation.
- Does not create a new tax—continues the existing one.
- Returns to voters for renewal in 10 years.
Amendment 2 – Elect Charter County Assessors
Key Concerns
- Adds another elected office and campaign.
Key Benefits
- Gives Jackson County voters ability to elect their county assessor.
- Requires state training for assessors.
- Increases public accountability.
Amendment 4 – Change Citizen Initiative Petition Rules
Key Concerns
- Makes citizen constitutional amendments harder to pass.
- A statewide majority could still lose if it fails in one or more congressional districts.
- Gives congressional districts greater power to block statewide measures.
Key Benefits
- Requires broader statewide support before changing the Constitution.
- Provides voters the full text of initiative petitions.
- May reduce frequent constitutional amendments.
Amendment 5 – Phase Out Income Tax / Expand Sales Taxes
Key Concerns
- Does not say which goods or services may be taxed in the future.
- Allows future Legislatures to expand sales taxes to additional goods and services.
- Places no constitutional limit on what goods or services could become taxable.
- Leaves future tax decisions to the Legislature rather than specifying them in the amendment.
- The fiscal impact is unknown until future legislation is passed.
- Missouri retirees will be paying taxes on goods and services.
Key Benefits
- Begins phasing out Missouri's individual income tax.
- Requires income tax reductions to accompany expanded sales taxes.
- Includes provisions intended to protect school funding and reduce some local taxes.
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