Missouri Proposition A, Minimum Wage and Earned Paid Sick Time Initiative (2024)

Missouri Proposition A
Election date November 5, 2024
Topic Labor and unions
Status a Approved
Type State statute	Origin Citizens

Missouri Proposition A, the Minimum Wage and Earned Paid Sick Time Initiative, was on the ballot in Missouri as an initiated state statute on November 5, 2024. The ballot measure was approved.

A "yes" vote supported establishing a $13.75 per hour minimum wage by 2025, which would be increased by $1.25 per hour each year until 2026, when the minimum wage is $15 per hour, and also requiring employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

A "no" vote opposed establishing a $13.75 per hour minimum wage by 2025, which would be increased by $1.25 per hour each year until 2026, when the minimum wage is $15 per hour, and also requiring employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

Election results

See also: Results for minimum wage and labor-related ballot measures, 2024

Missouri Proposition A
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		1,693,064	57.57%
No		1,247,658	42.43%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Aftermath

Lawsuit

In December 2024, a coalition of business organizations—including the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Restaurant Association, and the National Federation of Independent Business—filed a lawsuit challenging Proposition A. The plaintiffs said that the ballot summary and fiscal note were misleading and that the measure violated the Missouri Constitution's single-subject rule by combining minimum wage increases and paid sick leave provisions into one initiative.

On April 29, 2025, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld Proposition A. The court ruled that the ballot summary and fiscal note were not misleading and that there was no election irregularity. Chief Justice Mary Russell said, "This court finds there was no election irregularity and the election results are valid." The court did not address the single-subject argument, stating it lacked jurisdiction over that claim in a post-election context.

In response to the ruling, Terrence Wise, who was affiliated with Stand Up KC and Missouri Workers Center, said, "Workers like me have spent over a decade fighting across race and place to strengthen our rights, and the Supreme Court decision today proves that when we fight, we win. We will continue to stand up for our right to the dignified benefits and wages we deserve — from the shop floor to the halls of government."

Kara Corches, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "In light of today’s decision, it is now imperative that the Missouri General Assembly pass HB 567." House Bill 567 (HB 567) was designed to repeal the paid sick leave requirements and inflation-based adjustments to the minimum wage approved by Proposition A, while still allowing the wage to reach $15 as scheduled."

House Bill 567

On December 16, 2024, House Bill 567 (HB 567) was introduced to the Missouri State Legislature. HB 567 was designed to repeal sick leave provisions established by Proposition A. HB 567 left the provision to keep the minimum wage increase to $15 an hour, but repealed future increases based on inflation. On March 13, the Missouri State House voted 84-62 to pass HB 567, with 84 Republicans and zero Democrats voting to pass the bill, while 48 Democrats and 14 Republicans voted against the bill. On May 14, 2025, the Missouri State Senate voted 22-11 to pass HB 567. The bill went to Governor Mike Kehoe (R) to sign.

On July 10, 2025, Gov. Kehoe signed HB 567 into law, repealing the sick leave provisions passed by voters under Proposition A. In a statement, Kehoe said, "Today, we are protecting the people who make Missouri work—families, job creators, and small business owners—by cutting taxes, rolling back overreach, and eliminating costly mandates."

Richard von Glahn, policy director for Missouri Jobs With Justice, spoke in opposition to the overturning of the paid sick leave portions of Proposition A, saying, "The governor signing this bill is an absolute betrayal to those families, and it hurts my heart."

Kara Corches, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke in support of overturning the paid sick leave portions of Proposition A, saying, "Business owners were clear: Proposition A's paid leave and minimum wage policies were a job killer. Missouri employers value their employees and recognize the importance of offering competitive wages and benefits, but one-size-fits-all mandates threaten growth. We thank Gov. Kehoe for signing this legislation that safeguards jobs and supports Missouri's overall economic competitiveness."

Overview

What did Proposition A do?

See also: Measure design

Proposition A increased the minimum wage to $15 per hour in 2026, starting at $13.75 per hour in 2025. It also required employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

The initiative required businesses with 15 or fewer employees to provide at least five paid sick days per year, while those with more than 15 employees had to offer at least seven paid sick days annually. Employees could use this sick leave for their own illnesses or to care for family members.

What was the status of minimum wage in Missouri?

See also: Minimum wage in Missouri

As of 2024, the minimum wage in Missouri was $12.30 per hour. This was established when voters approved Proposition B in 2018, which increased the minimum wage each year until reaching $12 in 2023 and then made increases or decreases based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. Proposition B was approved by 62.34% of voters on Nov. 6, 2018. Previously, Missouri voters approved another ballot measure, also called Proposition B, in 2006, which raised the state minimum wage to $6.50 per hour or to the level of the federal minimum wage, if higher. That measure was approved by 75.94% of voters on Nov. 7, 2006.

The Missouri minimum wage law did not apply to public employees. For tipped employees, employers in Missouri had to pay at least 50% of Missouri’s minimum wage, which, in 2024, was $6.15 per hour. Employers had to cover any tip losses to ensure that an employee makes a total of $12.30 per hour.

How many minimum wage ballot measures have been approved in the U.S.?

See also: Minimum wage ballot measures

From 1996 to 2022, there were 28 minimum wage increase measures on the ballot. Voters approved 26 (92.86%) and rejected two (7.14%). The last states to approve minimum wage measures were Nebraska and Nevada in November 2022. The last time that voters rejected a minimum wage increase measure was in 1996, when measures were defeated in Missouri and Montana.

Measure design

The initiative increased the minimum wage to $13.75 per hour in 2025 and to $15 per hour in 2026.

The initiative required businesses with 15 or fewer employees to provide at least five paid sick days per year, while those with more than 15 employees had to offer at least seven paid sick days annually. Employees could use this sick leave for their own illnesses or to care for family members.

Earned sick time began to accrue at the commencement of employment or on May 1, 2024, whichever was later.

Up to 80 hours of earned paid sick time could be carried over to the following year if unused.

Earned sick leave could be used for physical illness, injury, or health condition, a need for medical diagnosis, or treatment of mental health or physical illness, injury, or health condition, or for preventative medical care.

The sick leave provisions did not apply to individuals engaging in volunteer work for educational, charitable, religious, or nonprofit organizations; individuals standing in loco parentis to foster children in their care; individuals employed for less than four months in any year in a resident or day camp for children or youth, or any individual employed by an educational conference center operated by a charitable or not-for-profit organization; babysitters; individuals employed at a private residence on an occasional basis for six hours or less on any occasion; individuals employed on a casual basis such as golf caddies, newsboys, or similar occupations; individuals employed in certain governmental positions; and certain incarcerated individuals.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The official ballot title was as follows:

“

Do you want to amend Missouri law to: increase minimum wage January 1, 2025 to $13.75 per hour, increasing $1.25 per hour each year until 2026, when the minimum wage would be $15.00 per hour; adjust minimum wage based on changes in the Consumer Price Index each January beginning in 2027; require all employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every thirty hours worked; allow the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to provide oversight and enforcement; and exempt governmental entities, political subdivisions, school districts and education institutions? State governmental entities estimate one-time costs ranging from $0 to $53,000, and ongoing costs ranging from $0 to at least $256,000 per year by 2027. State and local government tax revenue could change by an unknown annual amount depending on business decisions.

”

Ballot summary

The official ballot summary was as follows:

“

A “yes” vote will amend Missouri statutes to increase the state minimum wage beginning January 1, 2025 to $13.75 per hour and increase the hourly rate $1.25, to $15.00 per hour beginning January 2026. Annually the minimum wage will be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index. The law will require employers with fifteen or more employees to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every thirty hours worked. The amendment will exempt governmental entities, political subdivisions, school districts and education institutions from the minimum wage increase. A “no” vote will not amend Missouri law to make changes to the state minimum wage law. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

”

Full text

The full text of the ballot initiative is below:

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2024

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The secretary of state wrote the ballot language for this measure.

The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 9, and the FRE is 50. The word count for the ballot title is 122.

The FKGL for the ballot summary is grade level 11, and the FRE is 48. The word count for the ballot summary is 109.

Support

Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages led the campaign in support of the initiative.

Supporters

Officials

• State Rep. Crystal Quade (D)

Unions

• International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Organizations

• Abortion Action Missouri
• League of Women Voters of Missouri
• Missouri AFL-CIO
• Missouri Jobs with Justice
• Missouri Nurses Association

Arguments

• Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages: "Hardworking Missourians often face impossible choices. Parents decide between sending their children to school sick or losing a day’s pay because they don’t get paid sick days. Families choose between paying for groceries, housing, or utilities because the minimum wage has not kept up with rising costs. Missouri’s economy should reward hard work and not punish people for getting sick. This initiative will help tens of thousands of Missouri parents and their children by providing needed time off from work and gradually increasing the minimum wage over 3 years. This initiative will mean hard-working Missourians can take care of their families."
• State Rep. Crystal Quade: "We’ve heard on this stage that minimum wage jobs are entry level jobs and they’re just for kids. The reality is we have so many parents and so many people who are working minimum wage jobs, multiple minimum wage jobs to get by because they can’t actually find good quality high paying jobs in the state of Missouri ... As a working parent myself, I understand what it means when my kid gets sick, and I have to call in and wonder what that means for my job and my security. And I have, and prior to becoming a legislator, I’ve had good jobs, but not everybody has that affordability where their employer is flexible with them."

Opposition

Supporters

Officials

• Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe (R)

Arguments

• Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe: "When we change minimum wage standards, we actually affect those that we’re trying to help the most. Minimum wages will cause prices to rise on the most basic of products. It also leaves a void for the youngest of people who want to start at an entry level job. You take those jobs away from them."

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Missouri ballot measures

The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through November 30, 2024.

Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages was the campaign registered in support of the measure.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$4,854,063.61	$1,591,752.35	$6,445,815.96	$4,815,626.47	$6,407,378.82
Oppose	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$4,854,063.61	$1,591,752.35	$6,445,815.96	$4,815,626.47	$6,407,378.82

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of the measure.

Committees in support of Proposition A
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages	$4,854,063.61	$1,591,752.35	$6,445,815.96	$4,815,626.47	$6,407,378.82
Total	$4,854,063.61	$1,591,752.35	$6,445,815.96	$4,815,626.47	$6,407,378.82

Donors

The following were the top donors who contributed to the support committees.

Donor	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions
Sixteen Thirty Fund	$3,549,168.00	$0.00	$3,549,168.00
Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action	$763,943.44	$0.00	$763,943.44
Move Action	$537,350.00	$0.00	$537,350.00
The Fairness Project	$451,476.72	$0.00	$451,476.72
Open Society Policy Center	$250,000.00	$0.00	$250,000.00

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Polls

See also: 2024 ballot measure polls

Are you aware of a poll on this ballot measure that should be included below? You can share ballot measure polls, along with source links, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Missouri Proposition A, Minimum Wage and Earned Paid Sick Time Initiative (2024)
Poll	Dates	Sample size	Margin of error	Support	Oppose	Undecided

SLU/YouGov	8/8/24-8/16/24	900 LV	± 3.79%	57%	30%	14%
	Question: "In an upcoming election, Missouri voters may be asked to raise the state's minimum wage. The bolded text below is the language proposed to appear on the ballot. Respondents saw Ballot Language Proposition A. Would you support the above ballot proposition?"

Note: LV is likely voters, RV is registered voters, and EV is eligible voters.

Background

Minimum wage in Missouri

As of 2024, the Missouri minimum wage was $12.30 per hour, and at minimum, all private businesses in Missouri must pay the $12.30 hourly rate. The Missouri minimum wage law does not apply to public employees. For tipped employees, employers in Missouri must pay at least 50% of Missouri’s minimum wage, which, in 2024, was $6.15 per hour. Employers must cover any tip losses to ensure that an employee makes a total of $12.30 per hour. Some exceptions to the minimum wage law include retail or service businesses with an annual gross income of less than $500,000, certain full time students who are working part time, and most agricultural or farm employees.

Minimum wage ballot measures in Missouri

Missouri Proposition B (2018)

See also: Missouri Proposition B, $12 Minimum Wage Initiative (2018)

In 2018, Missouri voters approved Proposition B, which increased the state's minimum wage each year until reaching $12 in 2023. The measure was designed to increase the minimum wage from $7.85 (2018) to $8.60 in 2019; $9.45 in 2020; $10.30 in 2021; $11.15 in 2022; and $12.00 in 2023, and then thereafter, increase or decrease the minimum wage based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The initiative also was designed to penalize an employer who pays employees below the minimum wage and require the employer to provide the underpaid employee with the full amount of the wage rate plus an additional amount equal to twice the unpaid wages, and also exempted government employers from the minimum wage increase. Voters approved the initiative by 62.34%-37.66% on Nov. 6, 2018.

Missouri Proposition B (2006)

See also: Missouri Minimum Wage, Proposition B (2006)

In 2006, Missouri voters approved Proposition B, which increased the state minimum wage to $6.50 per hour or to the level of the federal minimum wage. Voters approved the measure with 75.94% voting for the measure and 24.06% voting against the measure. In 2011 Missouri lawmakers proposed a bill to repeal 2006's Proposition B. Specifically the bill proposed that Missouri's minimum wage never exceed the minimum set by the federal government. According to supporters the change would "protect businesses from forced increases in labor costs and preserve jobs for low-skilled workers." Opponents, however argued that the change would overturn an issue already approved by voters. On March 3, 2011 the bill was approved by the House following a 92-60 vote. Ultimately, the bill died in a senate chamber and was not enacted.

Missouri Proposition A (1996)

See also: Missouri Minimum Wage, Proposition A (1996)

In 1996, Missouri voters defeated Proposition B, which would have required all employers to pay employees an hourly minimum wage of $6.25, with a $0.15 annual increase. Voters defeated the measure with 71.30% voting against the measure, and 28.70% voting for the measure.

Minimum wage by state

The average minimum wage in 2024 was $10.69, up from $10.47 in 2023 and $9.85 in 2022.

After 2024 increases, minimum wages were set to be highest in Washington ($17.00 per hour) and California ($16.00 per hour). Minimum wages were set to be the lowest in Georgia and Wyoming, where the states' $5.15 minimum wages are superseded by the federal government's $7.25 per hour requirement. Going into 2024, 20 states used the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25, and 30 states provided for state minimum wages above the federal minimum wage.

The map below shows state minimum wages in 2024:

Minimum wage ballot measures

From 1996 to 2024, there were 32 ballot measures to increase state minimum wages. Voters approved 28 (87.50%) and rejected four (12.50%). In 2024, California and Massachusetts became the first states to reject minimum wage increase ballot measures since 1996. The other two defeated measures were on the ballot in 1996 in Missouri and Montana.

The following chart shows election outcomes for minimum wage increase ballot measures from 1996 to 2024.

Measures to increase state minimum wages (1996-2024)
Year	State	Measure	Wage	Type	Yes votes (%)	No votes (%)	Outcome
2024	California	Proposition 32	$18.00 (2026)	Initiative	N/A	N/A	d
2024	Massachusetts	Question 5	$15.00 (2029) for Tipped Employees	Initiative	N/A	N/A	d
2024	Missouri	Proposition A	$15.00 (2026)	Initiative	N/A	N/A	a
2024	Alaska	Ballot Measure 1	$15.00 (2027)	Initiative	N/A	N/A	a
2022	Nebraska	Initiative 433	$15.00 (2026)	Initiative	58.66%	41.34%	a
2022	Nevada	Amendment 2	$12.00 (2024)	Referral	55.18%	44.82%	a
2020	Florida	Amendment 2	$15.00 (2026)	Initiative	60.82%	39.18%	a
2018	Arkansas	Issue 5	$11.00 (2021)	Initiative	68.46%	31.54%	a
2018	Missouri	Proposition B	$12.00 (2023)	Initiative	62.34%	37.66%	a
2016	Arizona	Proposition 206	$12.00 (2020)	Initiative	58.33%	41.67%	a
2016	Colorado	Amendment 70	$12.00 (2020)	Initiative	55.36%	44.64%	a
2016	Maine	Question 4	$12.00 (2020)	Initiative	55.50%	44.50%	a
2016	Washington	Initiative 1433	$13.50 (2020)	Initiative	57.42%	42.58%	a
2014	Alaska	Measure 3	$9.75 (2016)	Initiative	69.35%	30.65%	a
2014	Arkansas	Issue 5	$8.50 (2017)	Initiative	65.94%	34.06%	a
2014	Nebraska	Initiative 425	$9.00 (2016)	Initiative	59.47%	40.53%	a
2014	South Dakota	Measure 18	$8.50 (2015)	Initiative	55.05%	44.95%	a
2013	New Jersey	Question 2	$8.25 (2014)	Referral	61.26%	38.74%	a
2006	Arizona	Proposition 2022	$6.75 (2007)	Initiative	65.37%	34.63%	a
2006	Colorado	Initiative 42	$6.85 (2007)	Initiative	53.30%	46.70%	a
2006	Missouri	Proposition B	$6.50 (2007)	Initiative	75.94%	24.06%	a
2006	Montana	I-151	$6.50 (2007)	Initiative	72.69%	27.31%	a
2006	Nevada	Question 6	$6.15 (2006)	Initiative	68.71%	31.29%	a
2006	Ohio	Amendment 2	$6.85 (2007)	Initiative	56.65%	43.35%	a
2004	Florida	Amendment 5	$6.15 (2005)	Initiative	71.25%	28.75%	a
2004	Nevada	Question 6	$6.15 (2006)	Initiative	68.4%	31.6%	a
2002	Oregon	Measure 25	$6.90 (2003)	Initiative	51.3%	48.7%	a
1998	Washington	Initiative 688	$6.50 (2000)	Initiative	66.1%	33.9%	a
1996	California	Proposition 210	$5.75 (1998)	Initiative	61.45%	38.55%	a
1996	Missouri	Proposition A	$6.75 (1999)	Initiative	28.70%	71.30%	d
1996	Montana	I-121	$6.25 (2000)	Initiative	43.53%	56.47%	d
1996	Oregon	Measure 36	$6.50 (1999)	Initiative	56.85%	43.15%	a

Path to the ballot

Process in Missouri

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Missouri

In Missouri, the number of signatures required to qualify an initiated state statute for the ballot is equal to 5 percent of the votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election in six of the eight state congressional districts. Signatures must be filed with the secretary of state six months prior to the election.

The requirements to get an initiated state statute certified for the 2024 ballot:

• Signatures: The smallest possible requirement was 107,246 valid signatures. The actual requirement depends on the congressional districts in which signatures were collected.
• Deadline: The deadline to submit signatures was May 5, 2024.

Once the signatures have been filed with the secretary of state, the secretary copies the petition sheets and transmits them to county election authorities for verification. The secretary of state may choose whether the signatures are to be verified by a 5 percent random sample or full verification. If the random sampling projects between 90 percent and 110 percent of required signatures, a full check of all signatures is required. If more than 110 percent, the initiative is certified, and, if less than 90 percent, the initiative fails.

Stages of this ballot initiative

• This initiative was cleared for signature gathering on February 23, 2023.
• Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages announced they submitted 210,000 signatures on May 1, 2024.
• On August 13, the secretary of state's office confirmed that enough valid signatures were submitted for the initiative to qualify for the ballot.

Sponsors of the measure hired MOVE Action to collect signatures for the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot. A total of $100,000.00 was spent to collect the 107,246 valid signatures required to put this measure before voters, resulting in a total cost per required signature (CPRS) of $0.93.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Missouri

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Missouri.

How to vote in Missouri

Poll times

In Missouri, all polling places are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Missouri, one must be 18 years old, a United States citizen, and Missouri resident. An applicant may print an application, pick one up from a county clerk's office, or request that an application be mailed. The completed application must be returned by mail. All returned applications must be postmarked at least 27 days prior to Election Day in order to be processed. An applicant may also register to vote online.

Automatic registration

Missouri does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Missouri has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Missouri does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Missouri, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify the length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. Voters may file change-of-address forms after the registration deadline, up to and including Election Day, provided that they can present photo identification upon doing so.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Missouri does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Missouri Secretary of State's office allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Missouri requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

The following were accepted forms of identification as of April 2023. Click here for the Missouri Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

Voters can present the following forms of information:

• A nonexpired Missouri driver or non-driver license;
• A nonexpired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card;
• A nonexpired United States passport; or
• Another photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri which is either not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election.

If a voter does not have an ID, he or she can obtain one for free by filling out this form.

See also

2024 measures

• 2024 ballot measures
• Labor and unions on the ballot
• Minimum wage on the ballot

Missouri

• Missouri ballot measures
• Missouri ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Initiative (2024)