The Missouri Supreme Court has struck down an entire Senate bill after ruling that a key piece violates the state constitution.
Sean Nicholson, a political activist, sued the state, contending the legislation is unconstitutional because it covers more than one subject.
In a unanimous opinion, the high court said the Missouri Legislature improperly added wording allowing the attorney general to appeal preliminary injunctions to temporarily block a law taking effect. The court said the wording was not related to the bill’s original purpose of changing the judicial review process for ballot summary disputes. The judicial review part would have delayed the court’s role of revising election ballot wording that is written by the legislature.
Because the state could not show the legislature would have passed the bill without the unconstitutional section, the justices say the whole bill must be thrown out.
The ruling reverses a lower court decision and ends both the citizen’s appeal and the state’s cross appeal.
Missouri Republican lawmakers passed Senate Bill 22 in 2025. It was sponsored by state Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville.
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