The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri prohibits 'no-tax-increase' ballot labels and requires state auditor review for local tax questions
Last action · January 8, 2026: Referred: Elections(H)Sponsor: Tricia Byrnes
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
s in Missouri are prohibited from using terms like 'no-tax-increase bond issue' on voter ballots for tax-supported indebtedness. The measure requires ballot questions to state whether debt service levies will increase, decrease, or maintain, disclose estimated dollar impacts on average residential property calculated by the county assessor and verified by the state auditor, and submit ballot language to the state auditor for a 30-day compliance review prior to certification.
Local taxpayers will see mandatory estimates of property tax impacts verified by state officials on bond and levy ballots, while local governments face strict pre-approval requirements and potential legal blocks by the attorney general for misleading ballot phrasing.
- House Bill 2356 was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session of the 103rd General Assembly by Representative Tricia Byrnes. context
- The measure introduces new state-level regulatory standards for local tax and bond ballot measures submitted by political subdivisions in Missouri. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Political subdivisions
Must submit proposed ballot language to the state auditor for review, comply with new disclosure requirements, and face prohibitions on specific ballot terminology.
Taxpayers
Receive mandatory plain-language disclosures regarding debt service levy changes and estimated dollar impacts on average residential real property.
State auditor
Required to review proposed ballot language for accuracy, completeness, and compliance within 30 days and verify estimated dollar impacts.
Attorney General
Authorized to bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin the use of noncompliant ballot language.
Key Facts
- Political subdivisions are prohibited from using 'no-tax-increase bond issue' or similar wording implying no financial obligation on voter ballots.
- Ballot questions for bonds or levy increases must state whether the question will increase, decrease, or maintain the current debt service levy.
- Ballot questions must include the estimated dollar impact on average residential real property calculated by the county assessor and verified by the state auditor.
- Ballot questions must include a disclosure that bond issuance constitutes a financial obligation of the political subdivision to be repaid by taxpayers.
Show all 9 facts
- Political subdivisions must submit proposed ballot language to the state auditor for review of accuracy, completeness, and compliance prior to certification.
- The state auditor must complete the review within thirty days and provide an advisory report.
- If the state auditor determines ballot language is misleading or noncompliant, the political subdivision must revise and resubmit it before certification.
- The attorney general may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin the use of noncompliant ballot language.
- Ballot language found noncompliant by a court is prohibited from appearing on the ballot, and the political subdivision cannot place the question on the ballot again until the following general election cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What review process must local governments complete before putting a tax question on the ballot?
What happens if a court finds a local ballot question to be noncompliant?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- Jan 8, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Elections(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 10, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools