Missouri Supreme Court upholds voter-approved minimum wage, paid sick leave initiative
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri's highest court on Tuesday upheld the election results of Proposition A, also known as 'Prop A'. The ballot initiative increases the state's minimum wage and requires paid sick time.
Missouri's Supreme Court upheld the initiative in a unanimous opinion, although one judge dissented on the reasoning.
Missouri voters continue to wonder whether Prop A will go into effect
'Prop A' is set to take effect this Thursday, May 1, but some challengers are still trying to repeal this portion of the proposition, saying rules on sick leave shouldn't have been lumped in on the ballot with a minimum wage increase.
Missouri's Restaurant Association is among those challengers.
FOX4 caught up with the restaurant association's CEO, Buddy Lahl, on Tuesday after leaving Jefferson City. Lahl and a coalition of restaurant owners were meeting with State Senators about House Bill 567, which would repeal the earned sick pay portion of the proposition.
It passed the House, but has been met with filibusters in the Senate. As it stands now, starting Thursday, employers will have to calculate at least one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, consecutive or otherwise.
'This is going to hurt small businesses in Missouri,' Lahl said. 'It's not going to hurt the larger employees as much because they have systems in place, they are going to have to adhere to these guidelines and regulations.'
Right now, only businesses with an annual revenue of less than $500,000 are exempt.
Lahl said he'd support sick time regulations if businesses with fewer than 100 employees, or at the very least 50, were exempt.
'We are happy to work with businesses on successful implementation and really doing what voters intend,' said Richard van Glahn, director of Missouri Jobs with Justice. 'When the business groups and some legislators are really seeking to do is undermine what voters clearly intended…that's where we have a problem.
'I don't think the courts should have ever been asked to overthrow the will of 1.7 million people,' he added.
Without a repeal, Lahl said suffering small businesses may be forced to cut other benefits or lay off employees.
'And what will absolutely happen is they will have to raise prices; as you incur additional expenses, you have to raise prices,' Lahl said.
If Missouri's Legislature does vote on the bill, it will have to happen before the Legislature adjourns on May 16.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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