Did Missouri approve the fiscal note summary for Jamie Howard's initiative petition 2026-011?

Plain-English summary

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey approved the legal content and form of the fiscal note summary the State Auditor prepared for Jamie Howard's initiative petition 2026-011. A fiscal note summary is the short cost statement voters see about a ballot measure. This one estimated state governmental costs of at least $25,000 each odd-numbered state fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2027, and that local governmental entities estimated no costs or savings.

The attorney general reviewed the summary under § 116.175.4, RSMo, which asks only whether the summary's legal content and form are sound. The review does not examine whether the cost estimate itself is fair or accurate, and the approval did not endorse the petition.

What this means for you

State officials and budget analysts

The approved fiscal note summary put the estimated state cost at a minimum of $25,000 in each odd-numbered fiscal year starting in fiscal year 2027, with no estimated local impact. The attorney general's sign-off went to the wording, not the underlying math.

Missouri voters and initiative proponents

Opinion 12-2025 clears the fiscal note summary for petition 2026-011 to appear as written. It says nothing about the merits of the petition or whether the dollar figure is right.

Common questions

Q: What did the fiscal note summary estimate?
A: State costs of at least $25,000 each odd-numbered state fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2027, and no estimated local costs or savings.

Q: Did the attorney general check whether the estimate was accurate?
A: No. Review under § 116.175.4 covers legal content and form, not the fairness or sufficiency of the estimated fiscal impact.

Q: Did the opinion endorse the petition?
A: No. The approval disclaimed any endorsement of the petition or its objectives.

Background and statutory framework

The State Auditor submitted the fiscal note and fiscal note summary by letter dated December 31, 2024. Under § 116.175, RSMo, the auditor prepares a fiscal note and summary for an initiative petition, and under § 116.175.4, RSMo the attorney general reviews the summary's legal content and form. The attorney general approved the summary on January 10, 2025.

The proposal was identified as Jamie Howard's petition 2026-011.

Citations and references

Statutes: § 116.175, RSMo; § 116.175.4, RSMo.

Source

• Landing page: https://ago.mo.gov/other-resources/ag-opinions/
• Original PDF: https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/12-2025.pdf

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
ANDREW BAILEY

January 10, 2025

OPINION LETTER NO. 12-2025

The Honorable Scott Fitzpatrick
Missouri State Auditor
State Capitol, Room 229
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Auditor Fitzpatrick:

This office received your letter of December 31, 2024,, submitting a fiscal note and fiscal note summary prepared under § 116.175, RSMo, for an initiative petition submitted by Jamie Howard, 2026-011. The fiscal note summary that you submitted is as follows:

State governmental entities costs of at least $25,000 each odd-numbered state fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2027. Local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

Under § 116.175.4, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the fiscal note summary. Because our review of the fiscal note summary is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the initiative petition or as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents. Furthermore, our review under § 116.175.4 does not examine the fairness or sufficiency of the estimated fiscal impact.

Very truly yours,

ANDREW BAILEY
Attorney General

OP-2025-012

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