Missouri voters passed new paid sick leave, minimum wage requirements in November. They could be overturned

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Missouri voted to raise the minimum wage and require paid sick leave, but now that could be overturned by the Missouri Supreme Court.

Arguments were heard Wednesday morning in a lawsuit that claims Proposition A, passed in November, was unconstitutional. The state’s highest court is now weighing whether to overturn a vote of the people. Several business groups brought this lawsuit forward because they’re concerned about the effects Proposition A could have on the state’s economy. But some small businesses stepped up to defend it.

Prop A, passed by voters in November, promised one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers are required to send out written notice to their employees about that paid sick time by April 15.

In addition, a new minimum wage went into effect at the beginning of this year. Effective New Year’s Day, Missouri’s new minimum wage is $13.75 cents per hour. In 2026, it will raise to $15 an hour, and then raise each year based on the Consumer Price Index.

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry filed a lawsuit in the Missouri Supreme Court to strike down Prop A. The Chamber was joined by the Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Forest Products Association, the Missouri Grocers Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in filing the lawsuit.

Since Prop A deals with minimum wage and paid sick leave, the lawsuit claims it violates the single subject rule, which says Missouri laws should only cover one subject. The lawsuit also claims the ballot language was misleading and it’s unconstitutional for a single ballot measure to address both paid sick leave and minimum wage.

“Voters were misled because when they go into the polling place they get to see one thing on their ballot -- and that’s the official ballot title,” said Marc Ellinger, lawyer for the plaintiffs.

Lawyers for the state responded saying these concerns should have come out before the election, and with the sweeping success of the ballot measure, there is no proof they would’ve made any difference.

“They present zero evidence that any of the claim bearers had any effect on the election let alone an outcome determinative effect,” said Loretta Haggard, lawyer for the defendants.

But the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry has a contingency plan in their fight against Prop A. A bill that would stop the paid sick leave part of Prop A from going into effect needs only one more vote to pass out of the Missouri House.

“There is no other state policy that is more detrimental to Missouri’s employers and our economy,” said Kara Corches with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Joe Chevalier, owner of Yellow Dog Bookshop in Columbia, is one of five small business owners who filed a brief to defend Proposition A. Chevalier said putting employees first makes a small business competitive.

“The shop has experienced low turnover over the years, which saves time and money that would otherwise have to be spent on hiring and training new people,” Chevalier said. “Small businesses like Yellow Dog depend on local customers with money to spend. When the minimum wage goes up, consumer spending goes up, and the ripple effects benefit businesses, communities and the economy.”

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