Did the Missouri attorney general approve the fair ballot language for House Bill No. 1's congressional-district map?

Plain-English summary

Missouri Attorney General Catherine L. Hanaway approved the legal content and form of the proposed fair ballot language for House Bill No. 1, which redrew congressional district boundaries. The proposed language told voters that a yes vote would approve the General Assembly's act, a no vote would leave the 2022 boundaries in place, and passage would have no impact on taxes.

The review was limited to the fair ballot language under § 116.025, RSMo. The opinion said that the statutorily required review did not endorse the legislation or express a view about its objectives.

What this means for you

Missouri election officials

The opinion approved the proposed statement's legal content and form under § 116.025, RSMo. It did not decide whether House Bill No. 1 was good policy or endorse the redrawn districts.

Missouri voters

The approved language described the effect of a yes vote and a no vote and stated that the measure would have no tax impact. The opinion addressed only that wording, not the merits of the district map.

Election lawyers and ballot-measure researchers

Opinion 1-2026 is a narrow ballot-language review. The attorney general expressly separated approval of the language from any view about the legislation's objectives.

Common questions

Q: Did the Missouri attorney general approve the ballot language?
A: Yes. The opinion approved its legal content and form under § 116.025, RSMo.

Q: Did the opinion approve or endorse the congressional map itself?
A: No. The opinion said the required review should not be read as an endorsement or as an expression of a view about the legislation's objectives.

Q: What did the proposed language say a no vote would do?
A: It said a no vote would leave in place the congressional district boundaries enacted in 2022.

Background and statutory framework

The Missouri Secretary of State asked for review on January 2, 2026. The attorney general reviewed the proposed fair ballot language under § 116.025, RSMo, and approved its legal content and form on January 12, 2026.

The proposed statement concerned House Bill No. 1 from the 2025 Extraordinary Session. It described the bill as redrawing congressional district boundaries and stated that the measure would have no impact on taxes.

Citations and references

Statute: § 116.025, RSMo.

Source

• Landing page: https://ago.mo.gov/other-resources/ag-opinions/
• Original PDF: https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/001_2026.pdf

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
CATHERINE L. HANAWAY

January 12, 2026

OPINION LETTER NO. 1-2026

Honorable Denny Hoskins, CPA
Missouri Secretary of State
James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center
600 West Main Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Secretary Hoskins:

This opinion letter responds to your request dated January 2, 2026, for our review under § 116.025, RSMo, of a proposed fair ballot language statement for House Bill No. 1 relating to the composition of congressional districts (2026-R004). The proposed fair ballot language statement is as follows:

A “yes” vote will approve the act of the General Assembly entitled “House Bill No. 1 (2025 Extraordinary Session),” which redraws the congressional district boundaries.

A “no” vote will leave in place the congressional district boundaries enacted in 2022.

If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

Pursuant to §116.025, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed fair ballot language statement.

Because our review of the fair ballot language statement is mandated by statute, no action we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the joint resolution, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents.

Very truly yours,

CATHERINE L. HANAWAY
Missouri Attorney General

OP-2026-001

Supreme Court Building, 207 W. High Street, P.O. Box 899, Jefferson City, MO 65102 | Phone: (573) 751-3321 | www.ago.mo.gov