HJR 54 is an attempt to overturn the voters’ approval of Amendment 3 in the November general election – abortion rights now in the Missouri Constitution [Bill of Rights – Section 36].

103rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
HJR 54 Proposes a constitutional amendment establishing provisions relating to reproductive health care
Sponsor: Stinnett, Melanie (133)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2025
LR Number: 1890H.01I
Last Action: 02/04/2025 – Public Hearing Completed (H)
Bill String: HJR 54
Next House Hearing: Hearing not scheduled
Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar
[….]

The summary:

HJR 54 [pdf]– REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
SPONSOR: Stinnett

Upon voter approval, this constitutional amendment prohibits abortions, except in cases of medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, rape, or incest. In the case of abortions performed or induced because of rape or incest, the abortion may be performed or induced no later than 12 weeks gestational age of the unborn child and only if documentation is presented to the attending physician that the rape or incest has been reported to a law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction to investigate the complaint at least 48 hours prior to the abortion.

The amendment also prohibits public funds from being used to pay for abortions; prohibits the use of surgeries, hormones, or drugs to assist a child with a gender transition; and holds that any person who intentionally or negligently causes damage to another person relating to the provision of reproductive health care or the performance or inducement of an abortion is liable for damages and subject to suspension or revocation of his or her medical license. Under this constitutional amendment, a woman’s right to reproductive freedom includes the right to health care in cases of miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and other medical emergencies. The General Assembly will have the authority to enact laws to carry out these provisions.

This bill is similar to SJR 33 (2025)

Submitted testimony, in committee:

I am support of protecting women and their right to reproductive healthcare!!!!!

My body, my choice. Period.

I feel that it should be up to a woman to decide what she wants to do with her body. The state nor the government should be able to dictate what she should do. Reproductive care should be allowed and provided as well as encouraged for the well being of every woman.

I support reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. Outside of any definition of “life”, outside of even the fact that we can’t force people to be organ donors in life or in death even if it could save lives (nor should we force people to), there should be a separation of church and state and it’s immoral and illegal to try to control and rule over people by your specific christian rules. christianity is not fact, not should it be law. While christians are more than welcome to live their lives by these rules (rules not provided by the Bible, I KNOW y’all aren’t reading it), you don’t get to force others to.

All women should have control over their own body and health.

I voted yes on amendment 3

Every person, including women, in this country should have the right to make decisions concerning their body. The notion that women should be given less rights is complete lunacy. The voters in this State made their opinions known when they cast their ballot. Let the people’s decision stand.

I am submitting this testimony to express my strong opposition to HJR 54. This resolution not only threatens the reproductive rights of Missourians but also risks putting lives in danger and deepening existing inequalities in our state. Abortion is a deeply personal and often difficult decision that should be made by individuals in consultation with their doctors—not dictated by politicians. People seek abortions for many reasons, including life-threatening medical conditions, financial insecurity, or knowing that they are not in a place to provide for a child. These decisions cannot and should not be reduced to political talking points. The provision in HJR 54 that allows for exceptions in cases of rape or incest may seem compassionate on the surface, but it is anything but. It requires survivors to report their abuse and provide documentation—despite the fact that many victims are unable to safely report their abusers, especially if those abusers are family members or individuals with power over them. Even for those who do report, investigations can drag on for months or even years, far exceeding the 12-week cutoff. This effectively denies survivors the care they need and deserve. But the issues with HJR 54 go beyond just one provision. Abortion restrictions like this one overwhelmingly harm people who are already vulnerable. Those living in rural areas, people of color, and low-income individuals often have limited access to healthcare to begin with. For these communities, banning abortion doesn’t just limit choices—it creates life-threatening obstacles. Let’s be clear: Amendment 3 reflects the values and decisions of Missouri voters. Repealing it would ignore the will of the people and undermine their trust in the democratic process. Missourians deserve access to compassionate, safe, and respectful healthcare, free from unnecessary barriers or government interference. I urge you to reject HJR 54 and uphold the protections established by Amendment 3. Thank you for taking the time to consider my testimony.

I am nearly 80 years old. For 50 years of my life, women have had the right to make decisions about their reproductive health. The voters have spoken and the will of the people should be respected and upheld.

Support abortion choice in Missouri – 1,538,659 Missourians voted YES on Amendment 3–you were elected to defend those rights – Reproductive Freedom is a Missouri value – Missourians made it clear at the ballot: we support access to abortion and all reproductive health care; our government should reflect those shared values not threaten them

Access to reproductive care is ESSENTIAL to the health of women and families. Any restrictions, whether gestational timeline, reason for need of care, or others, is a detriment to women. This is about medical care which should be decided by a woman and her doctor, not a politician. If a woman’s morals, religion, or social stance lead to a decision in the case of an abortion, that is her right. Allowing exceptions to care only muddies the waters when it comes to TIMELY and safe reproductive care. Ignoring the vote of the people is absolutely abysmal and it’s embarassing that we are, once again, having to defend our own rights as human beings.

This has been voted on & settled. Isn’t that the point of “sending it back to the states” so do what we voted for.

[….] I’m a wife, mother and a woman who believes in access to healthcare for all. 1,538,659 Missourians voted YES on Amendment 3, you were elected to defend those rights.Reproductive Freedom is a Missouri value. Missourians made it clear at the ballot: we support access to abortion and all reproductive health care; our government should reflect those shared values not threaten them.For a party that preaches small government, when we tell you to stay out of our bedrooms, doctors offices and medical care—we mean it.

[….] I voted to legalize abortion is Missouri. This is a vote I expected to be honored and respected. This is a moment for Missouri politicians to prove they are a voice for the people by executing the amendment the majority voted for.

I have needed life saving reproductive healthcare that without it I would have died. Amendment 3 is vital to protecting women from death during pregnancy and childbirth. Voting to overturn something that the voters put into place is disposable. The lawmakers are supposed to be upholding what their constituents want- and there is no more direct way to know what the constituents want than upholding their vote. Do not repeal amendment 3!

I support reproductive health care and allowing the choice to be left up to each individual. Pro choice!!! We voted in it and it passed. You cannot remove our votes because you don’t like the results.

Yet they keep trying.

I voted for amendment 3 and expect that it be enforced not over ridden by ignorant people, mostly men who have no understanding of how important it is to getting access to good reproductive medical health care for your body as well as allowing responsible doctors to save people’s lives if an abortion is necessary. To not enforce what Missouri’s overwhelmingly voted for is against every democratic process there is…

[….] It’s not complicated. I’m in full support of abortion because it is absolutely a woman’s right to have full control and rights over her body. It should not be up for debate, nor should it be regulated in anyway by religious or government body doctrine.

I fully support reproductive healthcare in our wonderful state of Missouri. Women’s reproductive freedom will benefit women, men and children in a positive mental, emotional, physical a d economic way. As a community college teacher I work with scores of young men and women who agree and wish for the guarantee of this freedom for our future. They express how disheartened and disenfranchised they feel in our political climate. I submit this testimony in solidarity with them and for myself and my family – children and grandchildren. We are not going back!

You wanted this to be a state issue. You wanted the people of the state to decide. We voted and 1,538,659 people voted yes to reproductive freedom. Your job, as elected officials, is to uphold the will of the people. This no longer up debate.

The State of Missouri voted to uphold abortion in our state and now there is a push to again deny the will of the voters. This is a gross miscarriage of justice. Stop trying to impose your will on the people who clearly told you, No. Abortion is a woman’s choice and right. It is reproductive care. It is NONE of your business. It is NOT up to you too change the will of your constituents [….]

I support the repeal of Amendment 3 and wish to impose the restrictions outlined in HJR 54.

Believe them when they tell you what they want to do.

As a mother of 4 children of 10 grandchildren I am in favor of ending killing babies and selling of infant body parts for profit. I am a concerned citizen,voter and Grandmother. Please stop!

Same planet, different world.

Abortion is healthcare! Keep your laws off my fucking body!

I am in favor of repealing Amendment 3. It was and is a terrible bill and use or State of Missouri as a “trail balloon” for other states. This needs to be repealed ASAP. Children / Babies have a right to be born. We give more rights to dogs than humans.

Is somebody going to tell him?

I support HRJ 54 that it be passed to abolish Amendment 3. Passage of Amendment 3 is such a stain on our pro-life state of Missouri. God will not bless our state with such a law in our constitution. So many babies are murdered and the many of these mothers experience a lifetime of pain and guilt. It is time to promote and encourage women to keep their babies and to show women how to cherish and love their babies instead of encouraging women to choose a way out of their pregnancies.

You do you.

I believe that medical decisions should be made by a doctor and the patient.

I voted along with a majority of Missourians for the reproductive choice bill. Why are we still fighting over this.?

I want my November vote to be honored as a voting citizen. Women have a right to seek the care they require. I didn’t vote for this governor, yet I am expected to accept the election results. I now expect the same on womens rights and protections

Why would you undermine the will of the people in Missouri? Reproductive health care is health care. proposition passed and should remain intact without politicians trying to overturn this to stay in power. I am in support of reproductive freedom and body autonomy. It’s sickening to see politicians pretend the country would be better by repealing the will of the people.

Missourians like me and my family are tired of our elected representatives attempting to circumvent the will of the voters. We stand in support of Amendment 3, which enshrined reproductive freedom and AGAINST HRJ 54. Legislators who cannot support the law and uphold the votes of their constituents do not belong in the Missouri State House. This matter is decided. Can you please move on to real issues, like improving education, healthcare, and bringing new businesses to our state? The quality of life in Missouri continues decline and you do NOTHING to make our state a better place and support families and children. We continually rank at the bottom of important quality of life indices as compared to other states. We also stand against HRJ 54’s prohibitions regarding gender affirming care. Let parents and their medical professionals decide what’s best for their children. The government does not belong in private healthcare matters of any kind. Thank you.

I am appalled that the will of the people of Missouri is being blatantly ignored. The citizens of this state have already made their wishes known: reproductive rights and freedoms are to be made available to any pregnant person in the state of Missouri. It is also incredibly infuriating that this proposal not only seeks to go against the vote of Missourians but also ties the rights of transgender people into this argument. They are two completely different issues and should remain as such.

The state of Missouri has already voted and decided to continue reproductive rights in favor of abortion. This is ridiculous and goes against what the people voted for.

I’m struggling to understand the desire to move to a minority rule mentality, as we as a State had this as a ballot measure that had the support and won in November. This desire to move to a world where if you lose, you deny the results, you deny the selection of the people that put you in/out of power is not only problematic, it’s not how the system is suppose to work. We the people vote, you perform for the will of the people. We need to be adults, accept when you lose and win with grace.

Yet, here we are.

Missourians already voted and expect that our representatives will honor our vote to protect abortion rights in our state. Your job is to serve the people, so please stop trying to negate their voice.

As a woman in the state of Missouri i want amendment 3 defended. I do not support HJR 54. I do not support losing my right to a safe legal abortion. I’m tired of having to continue this fight. I deserve bodily autonomy and so does every other woman.

You get the picture.

There are close to 2000 additional submitted comments.

Previously:

Chutzpah (Kansas) (August 4, 2022)

Campaign Finance: Not too sure about that (January 16, 2024)

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – women’s rights initiative petition for 2024 ballot (January 18, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Remember Kansas? Missouri is next. (January 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: own it (January 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: We’re not in Kansas anymore (January 19, 2024)

Mark Alford (r) – failure to read the womb, again (January 21, 2024)
Campaign Finance: More (January 22, 2024)

Campaign Finance: and more (January 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: It does, but not in the way you think. (January 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: and even more (January 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: “No one expects the anti-choice imposition” (January 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: this is the beginning, not the end (February 1, 2024)

Campaign Finance: keep it coming (February 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: philanthropy (February 6, 2024)

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – volunteer training, petition signing, rally – Kansas City, Missouri – February 6, 2024 (February 6, 2024)

Rev. Holly McKissick – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 7, 2024)

Rabbi Doug Alpert – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 7, 2024)

Dr. Iman Alsaden – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 8, 2024)

Hartzell Gray – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 8, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the world in which they want you to exist (February 9, 2024)

Signing, Everywhere, All at Once (February 10, 2024)

Campaign Finance: definitely a global impact (February 16, 2024)

Campaign Finance: forward (February 21, 2024)

Campaign Finance: still more (February 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: more forward (February 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: keep it coming in (March 5, 2024)

Signing the Petition – Sedalia, Missouri – March 17, 2024 (March 17, 2024)

Campaign Finance: there’ll be more (March 20, 2024)

Signing the Petition – Warrensburg, Missouri – April 5, 2024 (April 5, 20204)

Campaign Finance: sign the petition (April 10, 2024)

Sign the Petition (April 15, 2024)

Signing the petition in Lexington, Missouri (April 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: on several levels (April 27, 2024)

Signing the Petition in Raymore, Missouri (April 28, 2024)

Campaign Finance: guess what’s next (April 29, 2024)

This morning in Jefferson City, Missouri – delivering the signed petitions (May 3, 2024)

This morning in Jefferson City, Missouri – delivering the signed petitions – part 2 (May 3, 2024)

Abortion Rights Rally in Jefferson City – May 3, 2024 – Press Gaggle (May 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: coming up on the agenda (August 6, 2024)

Reproductive Freedom and Health Care will be on the November Ballot (August 13, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the tide (August 14, 2024)

Campaign Finance: for the November wave (August 22, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Bam! (August 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Dayam (August 24, 2024)

Campaign Finance: no one has forgotten (August 30, 2024)

Campaign Finance: $10,000.00 here, $10,000.00 there (September 1, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Back to the Dark Ages (September 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: On an express train back to the Dark Ages (September 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: $10,000.00 here, $250,000.00 there (September 5, 2024)

Campaign Finance: throw down the gauntlet (September 5, 2024)

Campaign Finance: seriously all in (September 6, 2024)

Campaign Finance: “We will not go back” (September 9, 2024)

Missouri Supreme Court: Amendment 3 is on the November 5, 2024 ballot (September 10, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the road to November 5th (September 12, 2024)

Campaign Finance: apparently a guy thing, mostly (September 14, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Why are we not surprised? (September 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: a friend (September 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: wedge issue (September 24, 2024)

Campaign Finance: no time to waste (September 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: time is almost up (October 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Who would have thought? (October 7, 2024)

Campaign Finance: unequal and opposite (October 9, 2024)

Campaign Finance: not messing around (October 10, 2024)

Donald Trump’s (r) World: they want you to continue to live in it (October 15, 2024)

Campaign Finance: In 20 days (October 16, 2024)

Campaign Finance: even more for choice (October 21, 2024)

Campaign Finance: what she said (October 25, 2024)

Campaign Finance: after that forced birth, you’re on your own (October 25, 2024)

Campaign Finance: everyone knows someone (October 27, 2024)

Campaign Finance: making it their business (October 28, 2024)

Campaign Finance: gird your loins (October 29, 2024)

Campaign Finance: To spend on what?

Fuck You, Fuck You, Very, Very Much (October 30, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the forced birthers spend their money (November 2, 2024)

On the same ballot (November 6, 2024)

And here you thought you were safe (November 8, 2024)

Campaign Finance: missed it by that much (November 9, 2024)

Andrew Bailey’s (r) favorite whine (November 27, 2024)

SB 119: right wingnut lunacy (December 5, 2024)

Amendment 3: a number of Missouri’s TRAP statutes enjoined by the Jackson County Circuit Court (December 20, 2024)

Planned Parenthood remains subject to TRAP restrictions in Missouri (December 21, 2024)

Rolla (January 5, 2025)

About that city council meeting in Rolla (January 7, 2025)

The Missouri we all know and love… (January 8, 2025)