Did Missouri approve the fiscal note summary for Katherine Floyd's initiative petition 2026-019?

Plain-English summary

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey approved the legal content and form of the fiscal note summary for Katherine Floyd's initiative petition 2026-019. The summary estimated at least $1.5 million in annual legal settlement costs for the Attorney General's Office and at least $85,320 in annual costs for other state entities. One local entity estimated an unknown negative fiscal impact, while other local entities estimated no costs or savings.

The review under § 116.175.4, RSMo was limited. The opinion did not endorse the petition and did not examine whether the estimated fiscal impact was fair or sufficient.

What this means for you

Initiative petition proponents

The fiscal note summary for petition 2026-019 passed the attorney general's legal-content-and-form review. The opinion did not approve the petition's objectives.

State and local government officials

The submitted summary reported separate Attorney General's Office and other state costs, plus differing local estimates. The attorney general did not assess those estimates' fairness or sufficiency.

Election lawyers and ballot-measure researchers

Opinion 32-2025 documents the statutory review of the fiscal note summary, not an independent fiscal analysis by the attorney general.

Common questions

Q: What annual cost did the Attorney General's Office estimate?
A: At least $1.5 million in increased legal settlement costs.

Q: What did other state entities estimate?
A: Increased costs of at least $85,320 annually.

Q: What local fiscal impact was reported?
A: One local entity estimated an unknown negative impact, while other local entities estimated no costs or savings.

Background and statutory framework

The Missouri State Auditor submitted the fiscal note and fiscal note summary on January 28, 2025. They were prepared under § 116.175, RSMo for initiative petition 2026-019.

The attorney general issued the legal-content-and-form approval on February 7, 2025 under § 116.175.4, RSMo.

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/32-2025-1.pdf

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
ANDREW BAILEY

February 7, 2025

OPINION LETTER NO. 32-2025

The Honorable Scott Fitzpatrick
Missouri State Auditor
Truman State Office Building, Room 880
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Auditor Fitzpatrick:

This office received your letter of January 28, 2025, submitting a fiscal note and fiscal note summary prepared under § 116.175, RSMo, for an initiative petition submitted by Katherine Floyd, 2026-019. The fiscal note summary that you submitted is as follows:

The Attorney General’s Office estimates increased legal settlement costs of at least $1.5 million annually. Other state governmental entities estimate increased costs of at least $85,320 annually. One local governmental entity estimates an unknown negative fiscal impact. Other 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-2025-032

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