Missouri Democrats blocks vote to repeal Amendment 3
ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Senate is embroiled in a heated debate over abortion rights and gender-related care as Republicans push to repeal Amendment 3 before the legislative session ends Friday at 6 p.m.
Amendment 3, which was approved by nearly 52 percent of voters last year, protects abortion rights in Missouri up to the point of fetal viability. However, Republicans are seeking to replace it with a new constitutional amendment that would allow abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or medical emergency and would ban gender-affirming care for minors.
Senator Adam Schnelting of St. Charles argues that Amendment 3 goes too far, claiming that most Missourians 'do not want abortion on demand.'
Senator Patty Lewis of Kansas City accused Republicans of using 'ballot candy' to mislead voters by adding unrelated language to the proposal.
Police spike dozens of reckless drivers in slideshows across St. Louis
The debate in Jefferson City intensified on Monday night as Republicans opened discussions on the proposal to repeal Amendment 3. However, after just two hours, Democrats began blocking a vote, effectively stalling the debate.
The proposed amendment has already passed in the House, and now the GOP is racing against the clock to get the measure on the ballot before the session ends.
The proposal's inclusion of a ban on gender-affirming care for minors has added to the controversy, with opponents arguing that it infringes on the rights of transgender youth.
As the legislative session deadline approaches, the future of Amendment 3 and the proposed changes remains uncertain, with both sides entrenched in their positions.
All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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