KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Missouri

SJR87 • 2026

Modifies provisions relating to sheriffs

Modifies provisions relating to sheriffs

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Carter, Jill; House handler: Cook, Bennie
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
HCS Reported Do Pass H Crime and Public Safety
Effective date
Upon voter

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Amendments

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

SA 1 SS

3/24/2026 - SA 1 to SS S offered & adopted (May) • May

Adopted

Plain English: Adopted 3/24/2026 - SA 1 to SS S offered & adopted (May) by May

  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
  • The official amendment text was available, but an easy plain-English summary could not be produced automatically during the last sync.
SA 2 SS

3/24/2026 - SA 2 to SS S offered & defeated (Lewis) • Lewis

Defeated

Plain English: Defeated 3/24/2026 - SA 2 to SS S offered & defeated (Lewis) by Lewis

  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
  • The official amendment text was available, but an easy plain-English summary could not be produced automatically during the last sync.
SS

3/24/2026 - SS S offered (Carter) • Carter

Adopted, as amended

Plain English: Adopted, as amended 3/24/2026 - SS S offered (Carter) by Carter

  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
  • The official amendment text was available, but an easy plain-English summary could not be produced automatically during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 H1780

    HCS Reported Do Pass H Crime and Public Safety

  2. 2026-04-14 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    HCS Voted Do Pass H Crime and Public Safety

  3. 2026-04-07 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Hearing Conducted H Crime and Public Safety

  4. 2026-03-31 H1509

    Referred H Crime and Public Safety

  5. 2026-03-26 H1434

    H Second Read

  6. 2026-03-25 H1425-1426

    H First Read

  7. 2026-03-25 S777-778

    S Third Read and Passed

  8. 2026-03-25 S776

    Reported from S Fiscal Oversight Committee

  9. 2026-03-25 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Voted Do Pass S Fiscal Oversight Committee

  10. 2026-03-24 S766

    Referred S Fiscal Oversight Committee

  11. 2026-03-24 S766

    Reported Truly Perfected S Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee

  12. 2026-03-24 S685

    Perfected

  13. 2026-03-24 S685

    SS, as amended, S adopted

  14. 2026-03-24 S685

    SA 2 to SS S offered & defeated (Lewis)--(4330S02.05S)

  15. 2026-03-24 S685

    SA 1 to SS S offered & adopted (May)--(4330S02.06S)

  16. 2026-03-24 S685

    SS S offered (Carter)--(4330S.02F)

  17. 2026-03-09 S546

    Reported from S General Laws Committee

  18. 2026-02-18 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Voted Do Pass S General Laws Committee

  19. 2026-02-11 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Hearing Conducted S General Laws Committee

  20. 2026-01-27 S246

    Second Read and Referred S General Laws Committee

  21. 2026-01-07 S101

    S First Read

  22. 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

House Committee Substitute

Print

HCS/SS/SJR 87 - This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, provides that each county shall elect a sheriff for a term of four years by a majority of the qualified voters of the county. This constitutional amendment shall not apply to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, or St. Charles County.

Additionally, the sheriff shall commit to jail all felons and traitors. The sheriff is also tasked with attending each division of the circuit court in their county and executing process. The sheriff may be removed from office by a quo warranto petition brought by the Attorney General.

This amendment is substantially similar to SS/SCS/SJR 40 (2025) and HJR 61 (2025) and HJR 71 (2025), and is similar to SJR 75 (2024).
TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

Perfected

Print

SS/SJR 87 - This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, provides that each county shall elect a sheriff for a term of four years by a majority of the qualified voters of the county. This constitutional amendment shall not apply to St. Louis County, or St. Charles County.

Additionally, the sheriff shall commit to jail all felons and traitors as well as other duties as provided in the act. The sheriff may be removed from office by a quo warranto petition brought by the Attorney General.

This amendment is identical to SS/SCS/SJR 40 (2025), is substantially similar to HJR 61 (2025) and HJR 71 (2025), and is similar to SJR 75 (2024).
TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

Senate Substitute

Print

SS/SJR 87 - This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, provides that each county shall elect a sheriff for a term of four years by a majority of the qualified voters of the county. This constitutional amendment shall not apply to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, or St. Charles County.

Additionally, the sheriff shall commit to jail all felons and traitors as well as other duties as provided in the act. The sheriff may be removed from office by a quo warranto petition brought by the Attorney General.

This amendment is identical to SS/SCS/SJR 40 (2025), is substantially similar to HJR 61 (2025) and HJR 71 (2025), and is similar to SJR 75 (2024).
TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

Introduced

Print

SJR 87 - This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, provides that each county shall elect a sheriff for a term of four years by a majority of the qualified voters of the county. This constitutional amendment shall not apply to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, or St. Charles County.

Additionally, the sheriff shall commit to jail all felons and traitors as well as other duties as provided in the act. The sheriff may be removed from office by a quo warranto petition brought by the Attorney General.

This amendment is identical to SS/SCS/SJR 40 (2025), is substantially similar to HJR 61 (2025) and HJR 71 (2025), and is similar to SJR 75 (2024).
TRISTAN BENSON, JR.