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HJR168 • 2026

Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring charter counties to amend charters to require the circuit clerk to be an elected position

Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring charter counties to amend charters to require the circuit clerk to be an elected position

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Keathley, Ben (101)
Last action
2026-05-15
Official status
05/15/2026 - Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
Effective date
2026-08-28

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring charter counties to amend charters to require the circuit clerk to be an elected position

Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring charter counties to amend charters to require the circuit clerk to be an elected position

What This Bill Does

  • Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring charter counties to amend charters to require the circuit clerk to be an elected position

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-15 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Referred: Emerging Issues(H)

  2. 2026-01-20 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Read Second Time (H)

  3. 2026-01-15 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Introduced and Read First Time (H)

Official Summary Text

Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring charter counties to amend charters to require the circuit clerk to be an elected position

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 168
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE KEA THLEY .
6747H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
JOINT RESOLUTION
Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri an amendment repealing Section 18(b) of
Article VI of the Constitution of Missouri, and adopting one new section in lieu
thereof relating to the circuit clerk of a certain county .
Be it r esolved by the House of Repr esentatives, the Senate concurring ther ein:
That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on T uesday next
2 following the first Monday in November , 2026, or at a special election to be called by the
3 governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for
4 adoption or rejection, the following amendment to Article VI of the Constitution of the state
5 of Missouri:
Section A. Section 18(b), Article VI, Constitution of Missouri, is repealed and one
2 new section adopted in lieu thereof, to be known as Section 18(b), to read as follows:
Section 18(b). The charter shall provide for its amendment, for the form of the county
2 government, the number , kinds, manner of selection, terms of of fice and salaries of the county
3 of ficers, and for the exercise of all powers and duties of counties and county of ficers
4 prescribed by the constitution and laws of the state; however , such charter shall, except for the
5 charter of any county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred
6 thousand but fewer than seven hundred thousand inhabitants, require the assessor of the
7 county to be an elected of ficer . Notwithstanding any other pr ovision of this constitution
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
8 to the contrary , the charter of St. Louis County shall provi de that the circu it clerk of St.
9 Louis County shall be an elected officer .
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HJR 168 2