Did Missouri approve the summary statement for applying dealership rules to manufacturer order locations and ending a direct-sales exemption?

Plain-English summary

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey approved the legal content and form of the proposed summary statement for Bradley Ketcher's initiative petition 2026-038. The statement described treating manufacturer-operated locations that market, process, or take orders for new vehicles as dealerships subject to franchise laws. It also described removing an exemption that allowed manufacturers to sell directly to consumers without franchised dealers.

The review was limited to the summary statement under § 116.334, RSMo. The opinion did not endorse the petition or express a view about its objectives.

What this means for you

Motor vehicle dealers and manufacturers

The reviewed statement described extending dealership status to certain manufacturer-operated locations and removing an existing direct-sales exemption. The opinion addressed the statement's legal content and form, not the proposal's merits.

Missouri voters

The statement framed the proposal as preventing manufacturers from circumventing dealership regulations. The attorney general did not endorse that objective.

Election lawyers and ballot-measure researchers

Opinion 56-2025 records the summary-statement approval for the second motor vehicle dealership proposal.

Common questions

Q: Which manufacturer locations did the statement cover?
A: Locations that market and process or take orders for new motor vehicles.

Q: What exemption would the proposal remove?
A: An existing exemption allowing manufacturers to sell directly to consumers without using franchised dealers.

Q: Did the attorney general endorse the proposal?
A: No. The opinion approved the summary statement's legal content and form and expressly disclaimed endorsement.

Background and statutory framework

The Missouri Secretary of State requested review on May 2, 2025. The attorney general reviewed the proposed summary statement under § 116.334, RSMo and approved it on May 12, 2025.

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/56-2025.pdf

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
ANDREW BAILEY

May 12, 2025

OPINION LETTER NO. 56-2025

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 May 2, 2025 for our review under § 116.334, RSMo of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Bradley Ketcher, 2026-038. The proposed summary statement is as follows:

Do you want to amend Missouri law to:

• define any location operated by a motor vehicle manufacturer that markets and processes or takes orders for new motor vehicles as a dealership subject to franchise laws;

• state that the intent of the law is to prevent manufacturers from circumventing dealership regulations; and

• remove an existing exemption that allows manufacturers to sell directly to consumers without using franchised dealers?

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-2025-062

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