• Missouri Republican lawmakers propose a referendum to repeal an abortion-rights amendment approved last November.
• The new measure would ban most abortions with some exceptions and could be on the ballot in November 2026.
• Protesters criticized the measure, asserting it undermines the will of the voters.

Just six months after Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights, the Republican-controlled legislature approved a new referendum aimed at repealing that amendment. The proposed measure would significantly restrict abortion access, allowing it only in medical emergencies, and in cases of rape or incest up to 12 weeks if the assault is reported to police within 48 hours. This amendment is set to appear on the ballot in November 2026, unless Governor Mike Kehoe calls for a special election sooner, according to HuffPost, CBS News, and ABC News.

The decision to advance this new referendum follows a history of fluctuating abortion laws in Missouri, particularly after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which previously led to a near-total ban on abortion in the state. The amendment that passed in 2024 allowed abortions until fetal viability, generally beyond 21 weeks, marking a stark contrast to the newly proposed ban. “Senate Republicans are overturning the will of the voters and pushing to bring an Abortion Ban back to Missouri,” stated Missouri Senate Democrats in response to the bill, which highlights the contentious political climate surrounding abortion rights, according to New York Times and HuffPost.

After the Senate passed the proposed amendment by a 21-11 vote, protests erupted outside the chamber, with demonstrators chanting “Stop the ban!” Critics of the proposed measure argue that it not only contradicts the desires of a majority of Missourians who favored the previous amendment but also restricts access to necessary health care. According to reports, this legislative move represents a broader trend in which Republican-led states are re-examining abortion access amid changing public sentiments, as highlighted by both CBS News and ABC News.