Did Missouri approve ballot wording for a $15 minimum wage and paid sick leave mandate?

Plain-English summary

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey approved the legal content and form of the proposed summary statement for Richard von Glahn's initiative petition 2026-047. The statement described a $15 minimum wage beginning January 1, 2027, followed by automatic annual inflation increases, and a new paid sick leave mandate for private employers.

The statement also described exempting state and local government employers, enforcing the mandates through lawsuits and new regulations, barring the legislature from clarifying them, and allowing cities over 10,000 people and all counties to enact more costly wage or leave standards. The opinion did not endorse the petition.

What this means for you

Private employers and employees

The reviewed statement described a $15 minimum wage, inflation adjustments, and paid sick leave obligations for private employers. The opinion addressed the statement's legal content and form, not the proposal's merits.

State and local government employers

The statement described exempting state and local government employers from the wage and leave obligations.

City and county officials

The statement described authority for local governments over 10,000 people and all counties to adopt more costly wage or leave standards.

Missouri voters and election researchers

Opinion 100-2025 records approval of the proposed summary statement for petition 2026-047. The attorney general expressly did not endorse the petition or its objectives.

Common questions

Q: What minimum wage did the statement describe?
A: A $15 minimum wage starting January 1, 2027, with annual automatic increases for inflation.

Q: Which employers would face the paid sick leave mandate described in the statement?
A: Private employers. The statement described exempting state and local government employers.

Q: How did the statement describe enforcement?
A: Through lawsuits and new regulations.

Q: Could local governments adopt higher standards?
A: The statement described allowing local governments over 10,000 in population and all counties to enact more costly wage or leave standards.

Background and statutory framework

The Missouri Secretary of State requested review on June 13, 2025. The attorney general reviewed the proposed summary statement under § 116.334, RSMo and approved it on June 23, 2025.

The proposal was identified as Richard von Glahn's petition 2026-047. The opinion reproduced the statement's six provisions concerning wages, paid leave, exemptions, enforcement, legislative clarification, and local standards.

Citations and references

Statute: § 116.334, RSMo.

Source

• Landing page: https://ago.mo.gov/other-resources/ag-opinions/
• Original PDF: https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/100-2025.pdf

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
ANDREW BAILEY

June 23, 2025

OPINION LETTER NO. 100-2025

The Honorable Denny Hoskins
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 June 13, 2025 for our review under § 116.334, RSMo of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Richard von Glahn, 2026-047. The proposed summary statement is as follows:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

• set a $15 minimum wage starting January 1, 2027, with annual automatic increases for inflation;

• impose a new paid sick leave mandate on private employers;

• exempt state and local government employers from all such obligations;

• authorize enforcement through lawsuits and new regulations;

• prohibit the legislature from clarifying these mandates; and

• allow local governments over 10,000 in population and all counties to enact more costly wage or leave standards?

Pursuant to § 116.334, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed statement. Because our review of the statement is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the petition, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents.

Very truly yours,

ANDREW BAILEY
Attorney General

OP-2025-111

Supreme Court Building
207 W. High Street
P.O. Box 899
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: (573) 751-3321
Fax: (573) 751-0774
www.ago.mo.gov