SJR119 • 2026

Modifies provisions relating to the right to bear arms

Elections Firearms

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Lewis, Patty; House handler: N/A
Last action: 2026-05-07
Official status: Second Read and Referred S Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee
Effective date: Upon voter

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 the right to bear arms

The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Introduced Print SJR 119 - This Constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, repeals provisions relating to the right to bear arms and provides that in accordance with the laws of the United States, any county, St.

What This Bill Does

The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Introduced Print SJR 119 - This Constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, repeals provisions relating to the right to bear arms and provides that in accordance with the laws of the United States, any county, St.
Louis City, or Kansas City, may enact ordinances regulating permits for the possession of a firearm and requiring background checks.
Any such ordinance shall exempt any active duty or retired law enforcement officer, any full-time judge, or any person required to be armed as a condition of employment.
Any penalty shall not exceed $1,000 or one year imprisonment.

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

2026-05-07 S1609
Second Read and Referred S Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee
2026-02-19 S414
S First Read

Official Summary Text

The following summaries of this bill are available:

Print All Summaries

Introduced

Print

SJR 119 - This Constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, repeals provisions relating to the right to bear arms and provides that in accordance with the laws of the United States, any county, St. Louis City, or Kansas City, may enact ordinances regulating permits for the possession of a firearm and requiring background checks. Any such ordinance shall exempt any active duty or retired law enforcement officer, any full-time judge, or any person required to be armed as a condition of employment. Any penalty shall not exceed $1,000 or one year imprisonment.

This amendment is identical to SJR 119 (2026), SJR 49 (2025), SJR 36 (2025), HJR 144 (2024), and HJR 140 (2024).
TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

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 JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 119
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR LEWIS.
4572S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
JOINT RESOLUTION
Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri, an amendment repealing section 23 of article I of
the Constitution of Missouri, and adopting one new section in lieu thereof relating to
firearms.
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring therein:
That at the next general election to be held in the 1
state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday 2
in November, 2026, or at a special election to be called by 3
the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to 4
the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or 5
rejection, the following amendment to article I of the 6
Constitution of the state of Missouri:7
Section A. Section 23, article I, Constitution of 1
Missouri, is repealed and one new section adopted in lieu 2
thereof, to be known as section 23, to read as follows:3
Section 23. [That the right of every citizen to keep 1
and bear arms, ammunition, and accessories typical to the 2
normal function of such arms, in defense of his home, 3
person, family and property, or when lawfully summoned in 4
aid of the civil power, shall not be questioned. The rights 5
guaranteed by this section shall be unalienable. Any 6
restriction on these rights shall be subject to strict 7
scrutiny and the state of Missouri shall be obligated to 8
uphold these rights and shall under no circumstances decline 9
to protect against their infringement. Nothing in this 10
SJR 119 2
section shall be construed to prevent the general assembly 11
from enacting general laws which limit the rights of 12
convicted violent felons or those adjudicated by a court to 13
be a danger to self or others as result of a mental disorder 14
or mental infirmity] In compliance with the Second Amendment 15
of the Constitution of the United States and limited by 16
decisions of the United States Supreme Court and federal 17
law, any county, the city of St. Louis, and the city of 18
Kansas City may, by ordinance duly enacted, regulate the 19
possession, carrying, or transfer of firearms within the 20
limits of the city or county notwithstanding any other 21
provision of law, subject to the following: 22
(1) An ordinance authorizing the issuance of a permit 23
or certificate may provide for the city or county to charge 24
a fee that is sufficient to cover the costs of issuing 25
permits or certificates but that does not exceed the costs 26
therefor. Any permits or certificates issued in accordance 27
with such ordinance shall not be valid for more than five 28
years. The city or county may obtain background check 29
information from the federal National Instant Criminal 30
Background Check System or any other governmental agency 31
providing such information service; 32
(2) Any ordinance adopted in accordance with this 33
section may apply to nonresidents as well as residents of 34
the city or county but shall recognize as valid any permit 35
or certificate authorizing the possession or carrying of 36
firearms issued by the county of residence of the permit 37
holder or certificate holder. Any such ordinance shall also 38
exempt any active duty or retired law enforcement officer 39
who is currently certified as compliant with the peace 40
officer standards and training required in this state, any 41
full-time judge, and any person who is required to be armed 42
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as a condition of employment during active employment as a 43
licensed security guard or as a government employee, 44
including any member of the military; and 45
(3) Any ordinance adopted in accordance with this 46
section may provide penalties for violation, but such 47
penalties shall not exceed a fine of one thousand dollars or 48
imprisonment in the county jail for a term exceeding one 49
year, or both. Any such ordinance may also authorize a law 50
enforcement officer, upon probable cause, to seize any 51
firearm in the possession of a person who is ineligible by 52
law to possess the firearm. 53
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