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SB1094 • 2026

Modifies provisions relating to elections

Modifies provisions relating to elections

Elections
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Crawford, Sandy; House handler: N/A
Last action
2026-05-15
Official status
Informal Calendar S Bills for Perfection
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.

Modifies provisions relating to elections

The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Senate Substitute Print SS/SCS/SB 1094 - This act modifies various provisions relating to elections.

What This Bill Does

  • The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Senate Substitute Print SS/SCS/SB 1094 - This act modifies various provisions relating to elections.
  • NOTICES OF ELECTION (Sections 108.240, 115.125, and 115.127) The act modifies provisions governing bond elections and publication of notice for elections.
  • In the case of any bond election, if an election contest is not filed within the time period prescribed by law (not later than thirty days after the official announcement of the election result), then all conditions of state election law shall be deemed to have been complied with in the issuance of the bond.
  • The act modifies the legal notice required for all elections by requiring local election authorities to publish notice twice in at least two qualified newspapers, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this act, within 6 weeks prior to the election.

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.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SA 1 to SS for SCS S offered & adopted (Crawford)--(4171S05.13S)

4/1/2026 - SA 1 to SS for SCS S offered & adopted (Crawford) • Crawford

Adopted

Plain English: 4171S05.13S 1 SENATE AMENDMENT NO.

  • 4171S05.13S 1 SENATE AMENDMENT NO.
  • ___ Offered by Of Amend SS/SCS/Senate Bill No.
  • 1094 , Page 4 , Section 115.127 , Lines 3-4 , by striking "submitted pursuant to subsection 2 of section 2 115.125".
  • 3
SA 2 to SS for SCS S offered (Beck)--(4171S05.14S)

4/1/2026 - SA 2 to SS for SCS S offered (Beck) • Beck

Offered

Plain English: 4171S05.14S 1 SENATE AMENDMENT NO.

  • 4171S05.14S 1 SENATE AMENDMENT NO.
  • ___ Offered by Of Amend SS/SCS/Senate Bill No.
  • 1094 , Page 31 , Section 115.453 , Line 86 , by inserting after all of said line the following: 2 "115.637.
  • The following offenses, and any others 3 specifically so described by law, shall be class four 4 election offenses and are deemed misdemeanors not connected 5 with the exercise of the right of suffrage.
SS for SCS S offered (Crawford)--(4171S.05F)

4/1/2026 - SS for SCS S offered (Crawford) • Crawford

Offered

Plain English: 4171S.05F 1 SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO.

  • 4171S.05F 1 SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO.
  • 1094 AN ACT To repeal sections 108.240, 115.125, 115.127, 115.233, 115.277, 115.284, 115.427, 115.430, and 115.453, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof nine new sections relating to elections.
  • Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: Section A.
  • Sections 108.240, 115.125, 115.127, 115.233, 1 115.277, 115.284, 115.427, 115.430, and 115.453, RSMo, are 2 repealed and nine new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be 3 known as sections 108.240, 115.125, 115.127, 115.233, 115.277, 4 115.284, 115.427, 115.430, and 115.453, to read as follows:5 108.240.

Bill History

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

    Informal Calendar S Bills for Perfection

  2. 2026-04-01 S849

    Bill Placed on Informal Calendar

  3. 2026-04-01 S847-849

    SA 2 to SS for SCS S offered (Beck)--(4171S05.14S)

  4. 2026-04-01 S847

    SA 1 to SS for SCS S offered & adopted (Crawford)--(4171S05.13S)

  5. 2026-04-01 S847

    SS for SCS S offered (Crawford)--(4171S.05F)

  6. 2026-03-25 S789

    Reported from S Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee w/SCS

  7. 2026-03-02 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    SCS Voted Do Pass S Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee (4171S.03C)

  8. 2026-02-23 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Hearing Conducted S Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee

  9. 2026-01-15 S187

    Second Read and Referred S Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee

  10. 2026-01-07 S59

    S First Read

  11. 2025-12-01 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Prefiled

Official Summary Text

The following summaries of this bill are available:

Print All Summaries

Senate Substitute

Print

SS/SCS/SB 1094 - This act modifies various provisions relating to elections.

NOTICES OF ELECTION
(Sections 108.240, 115.125, and 115.127)
The act modifies provisions governing bond elections and publication of notice for elections.

In the case of any bond election, if an election contest is not filed within the time period prescribed by law (not later than thirty days after the official announcement of the election result), then all conditions of state election law shall be deemed to have been complied with in the issuance of the bond.

The act modifies the legal notice required for all elections by requiring local election authorities to publish notice twice in at least two qualified newspapers, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this act, within 6 weeks prior to the election. In lieu of such requirement, election authorities have the option of mailing legal notice to each registered voter within 6 weeks of an election and publishing notice once in at least one newspaper in the county.
These provisions are identical to SCS/SB 1094 (2026).

The act additionally allows a notice of election to be sent by email.

This provision is substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024).

CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINES - LOCAL OFFICES
(Section 115.127)
Under current law, the period for filing a declaration of candidacy in certain political subdivisions and special districts is from 8:00 a.m. on the 17th Tuesday prior to the election until 5:00 p.m. on the 14th Tuesday prior to the election. This act changes that period to 8:00 a.m. on the 16th Tuesday prior to the election until 5:00 p.m. on the 13th Tuesday prior to the election, unless the 13th Tuesday prior to an election falls on a holiday, then the closing of filing shall be at 5:00 p.m. on the next day that is not a holiday.

This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 774 (2024), a provision in SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), HB 1604 (2024), a provision in SCS/HB 2084 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2206 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024), a provision in SCS/SB 346 (2023), and CCS/HS/HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 96 (2023) and substantially similar to HB 2225 (2024), HCS/HB 1214 (2023), provisions in the perfected HCS/HBs 267 & 347 (2023), and HCS/HB 783 (2023).

TESTING OF ELECTION EQUIPMENT
(Section 115.233)
Current law requires, in any election in which an electronic voting system is to be used, an election authority to have the automatic tabulating equipment tested within 14 days prior to the election to ascertain that the equipment is in compliance with the law and that it will correctly count the votes cast for all offices and on all questions. This act changes the timeline for testing such that it must be completed at least 14 days, but no less than one week prior to the election.

ABSENTEE VOTING
(Sections 115.277 and 115.284)
The act allows eligible covered voters to vote absentee by submitting a federal postcard application at the office of the election authority on election day even though the person is not registered. Interstate former residents and new residents may vote by absentee ballot at the office of the election authority on election day for the offices for which such voters are entitled to vote. This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024).

The act provides that all lists of absentee ballot applications for persons with permanent disabilities shall be kept confidential.

This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024), substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 346 (2023), and similar to a provision in the perfected HCS/HBs 267 & 347 (2023), a provision in HCS/HB 783 (2023), and a provision in CCS/HS/HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 96 (2023).

VOTER IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
(Section 115.427)
The act makes accommodations for individuals who appear at the office of an election authority to vote absentee and fail to present a form of personal identification by explicitly allowing such voters to cast a provisional ballot that will only be counted upon the voter returning to the office of the election authority by 7:00 p.m. on election day and presenting a form of personal identification for voting.

CASTING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS
(Section 115.430)
The act expands a provision of law governing the casting and counting of provisional ballots to all public elections, rather than just particular primary or general elections.

This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/SB 182 (2025), HCS/HB 1525 (2024), HB 2052 (2024), HCS/HB 2140 (2024), HCS/HB 2895 (2024), SCS/SB 346 (2023), the perfected HCS/HBs 267 & 347 (2023), and a provision in HCS/HB 783 (2023).

WRITE-IN CANDIDATES - REPEAL OF EXEMPTION FOR ELECTIONS WITHOUT PARTY CANDIDATES
(Section 115.453)
Current law provides that votes for write-in candidates are only counted for candidates who have filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate. Current law also provides an exemption to this requirement in instances where no candidate has filed for the office in question. This act repeals the exemption so that write-in candidates are only counted when a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate has been filed with the proper election authority.

This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 182 (2025).
SCOTT SVAGERA

Senate Committee Substitute

Print

SCS/SB 1094 - This act modifies provisions relating to elections, specifically provisions governing bond elections and publication of notice for elections.

In the case of any bond election, if an election contest is not filed within the time period prescribed by law (not later than thirty days after the official announcement of the election result), then all conditions of state election law shall be deemed to have been complied with in the issuance of the bond.

The act modifies the legal notice required for all elections by requiring local election authorities to publish notice twice in at least two qualified newspapers, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this act, within 6 weeks prior to the election. In lieu of such requirement, election authorities have the option of mailing legal notice to each registered voter within 6 weeks of an election and publishing notice once in at least one newspaper in the county.

These provisions are identical to certain provisions contained in the truly agreed to SS/SCS/HCs/HB 1871 (2026) and substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to SCS/HB 1940 (2026), provisions in HCS/HB 2605 (2026), SCS/HB 3000 (2026), provisions in SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024).
SCOTT SVAGERA

Introduced

Print

SB 1094 - This act modifies provisions relating to elections, specifically provisions governing bond elections and publication of notice for elections.

In the case of any bond election, if an election contest is not filed within the time period prescribed by law (not later than thirty days after the official announcement of the election result), then all conditions of state election law shall be deemed to have been complied with in the issuance of the bond.

The act repeals specific provisions for notice of special elections and modifies the legal notice required for all elections by requiring local election authorities to publish notice in at least one qualified newspaper circulated in the jurisdiction, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this act. Additionally, notice must be published twice during the 6 weeks prior to the election with at least one of the notices including the location of polling places. In lieu of publishing notice of an election in a newspaper, election authorities have the option of mailing legal notice to each registered voter within 6 weeks of an election.
SCOTT SVAGERA

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION-Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in this bill is not enacted
and is intended to be omitted in the law.
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 1094
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
4171S.03C KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To repeal sections 108.240 and 115.127, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections
relating to elections.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 108.240 and 115.127, RSMo, are 1
repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be 2
known as sections 108.240 and 115.127, to read as follows:3
108.240. 1. Before any general obligation bearer bond 1
or general obligation registered bond, hereafter issued by 2
any county, township, city, town, village or school district 3
or special road district or fire protection district or by 4
virtue of the provisions of chapters 243, 245, 248, and 5
sections 242.010 to 242.690 for any purpose whatever, shall 6
obtain validity or be negotiated: 7
(1) If such bonds are in bearer form, such bonds shall 8
first be presented to the state auditor, who, other 9
provisions of law notwithstanding, shall certify by manual 10
or facsimile endorsement of such bonds that all conditions 11
of the laws have been complied with in its issue, if that be 12
the case, and also that the conditions of the contract, 13
under which they were ordered to be issued, have also been 14
complied with and the evidence of that fact shall be filed 15
and preserved by the auditor. The state auditor may endorse 16
bearer bonds with the auditor's facsimile signature in lieu 17
SCS SB 1094 2
of manual signature after filing the auditor's manual 18
signature, certified by the auditor under oath, with the 19
secretary of state; and 20
(2) If such bonds are in registered form, the 21
proceedings relating to the issuance of such registered 22
bonds shall first be presented to the state auditor, who 23
shall examine the same and shall issue a certificate that 24
such proceedings comply with all conditions of the laws, if 25
that be the case, and also that the conditions of the 26
contract, under which they were ordered to be issued, have 27
also been complied with, and the evidence of these facts 28
shall be filed and preserved by the auditor. The state 29
auditor shall also maintain the following information: the 30
name of the issuer of the bonds; the amount thereof; the 31
maturity dates thereof; the interest rates thereon; and the 32
provisions with respect to prepayment, if any. 33
2. Such bearer bonds after receiving the said 34
certificate of the auditor as herein provided and such 35
registered bonds after the issuance of the said certificate 36
as herein provided shall thereafter be held in every action, 37
suit or proceeding in which their validity is, or may be, 38
brought into question, prima facie, valid and binding 39
obligations, and in every action brought to enforce 40
collection of such bonds, the certificate of such auditor, 41
or a duly certified copy thereof, shall be admitted and 42
received in evidence of the validity of such bonds, together 43
with the coupons thereto attached if any; provided, the only 44
defense which can be offered against the validity of such 45
bonds shall be for forgery or fraud. But this section shall 46
not be construed to give validity to any such bonds as may 47
be issued in excess of the limit fixed by the constitution, 48
or contrary to its provisions, but all such bonds shall, to 49
SCS SB 1094 3
the extent of such excess, be held void; and provided 50
further, that the remedy of injunction shall also lie at the 51
instance of any taxpayer of the respective county, city, 52
town, village, township or school district or special road 53
district or fire protection district or drainage district or 54
levy district to prevent the registration of any bonds, 55
alleged to be illegally issued or funded. 56
3. For purposes of subsection 1 of this section, once 57
the time period set forth in section 115.557 has expired, if 58
no election contest has been brought, all conditions of 59
chapter 115 shall be deemed as having been complied with in 60
the issuance of the bond. 61
115.127. 1. Except as provided in subsection 4 of 1
this section, upon receipt of notice of a special election 2
to fill a vacancy submitted pursuant to subsection 2 of 3
section 115.125, the election authority shall cause legal 4
notice of the special election to be published in a 5
newspaper of general circulation in its jurisdiction. The 6
notice shall include the name of the officer or agency 7
calling the election, the date and time of the election, the 8
name of the office to be filled and the date by which 9
candidates must be selected or filed for the office. Within 10
one week prior to each special election to fill a vacancy 11
held in its jurisdiction, the election authority shall cause 12
legal notice of the election to be published in two 13
newspapers of different political faith and general 14
circulation in the jurisdiction. The legal notice shall 15
include the date and time of the election, the name of the 16
officer or agency calling the election and a sample ballot. 17
If there is only one newspaper of general circulation in the 18
jurisdiction, the notice shall be published in the newspaper 19
within one week prior to the election. If there are two or 20
SCS SB 1094 4
more newspapers of general circulation in the jurisdiction, 21
but no two of opposite political faith, the notice shall be 22
published in any two of the newspapers within one week prior 23
to the election. 24
2. Except as provided in subsections 1 and 4 of this 25
section and in sections 115.521, 115.549 and 115.593, the 26
election authority shall cause legal notice of each election 27
held in its jurisdiction to be published. The notice shall 28
be published in two newspapers of different political faith 29
and qualified pursuant to chapter 493 which are published 30
within the bounds of the area holding the election. If 31
there is only one so-qualified newspaper, then notice shall 32
be published in only one newspaper. If there is no 33
newspaper published within the bounds of the election area, 34
then the notice shall be published in two qualified 35
newspapers of different political faith serving the area. 36
Notice shall be published twice[, the first publication 37
occurring in the second week prior to the election, and the 38
second publication occurring] within [one week] six weeks 39
prior to the election. Each such legal notice shall include 40
the date and time of the election, the name of the officer 41
or agency calling the election and a sample ballot; and, 42
unless notice has been given as provided by section 115.129, 43
the second publication of notice of the election shall 44
include the location of polling places. The election 45
authority may provide any additional notice of the election 46
it deems desirable. 47
3. The election authority shall print the official 48
ballot as the same appears on the sample ballot, and no 49
candidate's name or ballot issue which appears on the sample 50
ballot or official printed ballot shall be stricken or 51
removed from the ballot except on death of a candidate or by 52
SCS SB 1094 5
court order, but in no event shall a candidate or issue be 53
stricken or removed from the ballot less than eight weeks 54
before the date of the election. 55
4. In lieu of causing legal notice to be published 56
twice in accordance with any of the provisions of this 57
chapter, the election authority [in jurisdictions which have 58
less than seven hundred fifty registered voters and in which 59
no newspaper qualified pursuant to chapter 493 is 60
published,] may cause legal notice to be mailed [during the 61
second week prior to the election, by first class mail,] 62
within six weeks prior to the election to each registered 63
voter at the voter's voting address and published once in 64
one or more newspapers in the county. An election authority 65
may exclude from this mailing any voter that is designated 66
as an inactive voter pursuant to section 115.193. All such 67
legal notices shall include the date and time of the 68
election, the location of the polling place, the name of the 69
officer or agency calling the election and a sample ballot. 70
5. If the opening date for filing a declaration of 71
candidacy for any office in a political subdivision or 72
special district is not required by law or charter, the 73
opening filing date shall be 8:00 a.m., the seventeenth 74
Tuesday prior to the election. If the closing date for 75
filing a declaration of candidacy for any office in a 76
political subdivision or special district is not required by 77
law or charter, the closing filing date shall be 5:00 p.m., 78
the fourteenth Tuesday prior to the election. The political 79
subdivision or special district calling an election shall, 80
before the seventeenth Tuesday, prior to any election at 81
which offices are to be filled, notify the general public of 82
the opening filing date, the office or offices to be filled, 83
the proper place for filing and the closing filing date of 84
SCS SB 1094 6
the election. Such notification may be accomplished by 85
legal notice published in at least one newspaper of general 86
circulation in the political subdivision or special district. 87
6. Except as provided for in sections 115.247 and 88
115.359, if there is no additional cost for the printing or 89
reprinting of ballots or if the candidate agrees to pay any 90
printing or reprinting costs, a candidate who has filed for 91
an office or who has been duly nominated for an office may, 92
at any time after the certification of the notice of 93
election required in subsection 1 of section 115.125 but no 94
later than 5:00 p.m. on the eighth Tuesday before the 95
election, withdraw as a candidate pursuant to a court order, 96
which, except for good cause shown by the election authority 97
in opposition thereto, shall be freely given upon 98
application by the candidate to the circuit court of the 99
area of such candidate's residence. 100
✓