Reproductive health care advocates concerned about Senate Bill 22
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Thursday, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 22, giving the government more control over ballot language.
Some argue that this will clear a path for state officials to restrict access to abortion and reproductive health care across the state.
So, what exactly is Senate Bill 22? Let's start with the basics.
Ballot language is the wording that appears on a ballot; it's what voters read when they're deciding how to vote on a particular issue.
ICE detains mother at citizenship appointment in Kansas City, family says
Senate Bill 22 says if the court finds a ballot's summary statement to be insufficient or unfair, it can order the Missouri Secretary of State to rewrite it, up to three times.
If the court still finds it to be unfair after the three revisions, the court gets to write the summary statement itself and order it to appear on the ballot.
The bill also expands the Missouri Attorney General's ability to appeal preliminary injunctions on laws that violate the Constitution. It does not allow for any other party to appeal the granting or denial of a preliminary injunction.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a notice of appeal on Thursday after the bill was signed by the governor, seeking to reverse the preliminary injunctions currently blocking Missouri's total abortion ban.
The ACLU of Missouri, Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers on Thursday issued the following statement:
'A majority of Missouri voters passed Amendment 3 to end Missouri's abortion ban and protect reproductive freedom. Rather than following the will of the people, the same anti-abortion politicians that fought against Amendment 3 and lost at the ballot box have changed the rules of both the initiative petition and the court procedures so they can try to reinstate Missouri's abortion ban. Patients deserve more access to health care, not less. We will fight these attacks on our fundamental rights to ensure all Missourians continue to have access to abortion and the reproductive care they need.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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