A Cole County judge heard arguments on Wednesday on whether a 2026 pro-life ballot measure should be thrown out. At issue before Cole County Judge Dan Green is a provision in HRJ 73–which is set for the 2026 ballot as Amendment 3–that would impact gender transition medical interventions on minors.
The ACLU claims in its suit that the proposed amendment contains multiple subjects and is therefore unconstitutional. If Judge Green declines to throw Amendment 3 out, the ACLU is asking that the ballot summary prepared by Secretary of State Denny Hoskins be rewritten.
Missouri Solicitor General Louis Capozzi, defending the proposed amendment, argued that gender transition procedures necessarily impacts reproduction and falls within the broad category of “reproductive health care”.
Judge Green did not immediately rule on the challenge.