03/16/2026
Under the Hancock Amendment, Missouri lawmakers cannot raise taxes above constitutional limits without a vote of the people. They know voters would never willingly approve a plan to give the legislature broad power to raise taxes, so instead they are pushing a proposal to eliminate the state income tax and replace that revenue through expanded sales and use taxes.
This is not a tax cut for most Missourians and for many families, retirees, and seniors living on fixed incomes, it is likely to mean paying more.
Missourians who rely on Social Security or public pensions like MOSERS and PSRS/PEERS already receive little or no benefit from income tax reductions, but they would still pay higher sales taxes on everyday goods and services. Independent analysis shows that a median-income Missourian could pay about $535 more per year, and that as many as four out of five Missourians could end up paying more overall.
Supporters say healthcare and some other areas may be exempt, but those protections are not guaranteed in the amendment itself. Voters would be asked to trust future lawmakers not to tax things like rent, child care, education, legal services, home and car repairs, and many other services.
This plan also risks blowing a massive hole in Missouri’s budget. Estimates suggest the gap could reach roughly $5 billion, threatening funding for public schools, higher education, mental health services, and programs that support older adults and families.
This is not reform. It is a risky tax scheme that shifts more of the burden onto working families, seniors, and small businesses while giving the biggest benefits to those at the top.
