Representatives from Missouri's business community have filed a legal petition with the Missouri Supreme Court to overturn Proposition A. This measure, passed in the November election, aims to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026 and requires businesses to provide paid sick leave.
The petition was submitted on December 6, 2024, by several organizations including Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Forest Products Association, the Missouri Grocers Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). These groups argue that Proposition A will increase consumer prices and impose financial burdens on businesses across various sectors.
The business coalition's petition states: “While Proposition A is bad policy and will have extreme and detrimental effects on Missouri’s businesses, that is not the basis of this action.” The main contention lies in alleged "election irregularities" and "constitutional violations" which they believe warrant overturning the election results and declaring Proposition A invalid.
Proposition A introduces multiple new requirements for employers in Missouri. It mandates paid sick leave policies even for businesses already offering such benefits. Additionally, it allows for potential lawsuits against employers regarding these new regulations.
The challenge highlights several constitutional issues:
1. The Missouri Constitution requires ballot initiatives to focus on a single subject. However, Proposition A allegedly contains at least two unrelated subjects—minimum wage and earned sick leave.
2. The ballot measure's title must clearly express its single subject according to state constitution requirements; critics claim Proposition A's title is unclear with multiple subjects.
3. The summary statement and fiscal note summary are considered misleading or insufficient concerning their impact on state and local governments.
4. By exempting government entities and certain workers from its provisions, Proposition A may violate the Equal Protection Clause.
