The Missouri Supreme Court yesterday upheld Proposition A, a recently adopted ballot initiative that will raise Missouri’s minimum wage to $15 per hour and enact statewide paid sick leave.
In its decision, the Missouri Supreme Court rejected claims that there were election irregularities and dismissed claims of constitutional violations. This decision is a victory for workers and for democracy in the state.
“The Missouri Supreme Court’s decision will help ensure that Missouri workers have a higher minimum wage and important paid sick leave protections,” said Cassandra Gomez, senior staff attorney with the National Employment Law Project. “Setting higher standards for job quality helps all Missourians—it means that more jobs will become good jobs, with better pay and benefits.”
Setting higher job-quality standards helps all Missourians—it means that more jobs will become good jobs, with better pay and benefits.
Following yesterday’s ruling upholding Proposition A, Missouri’s minimum wage will increase to $15 per hour on January 1, 2026, and will adjust annually with the cost of living beginning in 2027. Additionally, covered workers throughout Missouri will be able to accrue and use paid sick leave beginning on May 1, 2025.
While Proposition A has been upheld by the Missouri Supreme Court, it still faces challenges in the state’s legislature, where several bills have been introduced that would modify the ballot initiative’s paid sick leave provisions. One such bill, HB 567, would repeal the state’s paid sick leave entirely, and would amend the minimum wage law so that the minimum wage would not adjust with the cost of living, and instead remain stagnant at $15 per hour once fully phased in on January 1, 2026.
“The Missouri legislature must respect the will of voters and stop trying to undo what Missourians decisively voted for,” said Gomez. “HB 567 and similar bills prioritize the interest of powerful business voices at the expense of working people. Missourians rejected that approach at the ballot box.”
Background
In November 2024, Missouri voters approved Proposition A by a strong majority, ushering in much needed expansions to legal protections for workers throughout the state.
Weeks after the election, large business groups, including the National Federation of Independent Business and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, filed a lawsuit before the Missouri Supreme Court seeking to rescind Proposition A, claiming election irregularities and alleging that the ballot initiative violated Missouri’s State Constitution.
In defense of Proposition A, small business owners filed an amicus brief, explaining how the initiative will strengthen Missouri’s economy. Advocates from Missouri Jobs with Justice also intervened in the lawsuit to rebut the large business groups’ claims that Proposition A was improperly adopted.
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