COLUMBIA — More than 100 members of the Missouri Association of Realtors gathered downtown Thursday to publicly oppose Amendments 4 and 5, two proposed constitutional changes that will appear on the Aug. 4 primary ballot.
What the Realtors say and why they’re mobilizing
The crowd, made up of local Realtors and association leaders from across Missouri, urged voters to reject both measures. At the rally the association announced a substantial political commitment: a $1 million donation to a political action committee opposing Amendment 4.
"Missouri Realtors are your neighbors. We are 26,000 strong, and we are ready to roll to Aug. 4,"
The comment came from Brian Jared, president of the Missouri Association of Realtors.
How each amendment would change state rules
Amendment 4 would alter Missouri’s initiative petition process. Under current law, citizen-initiated constitutional amendments require a statewide majority to pass. Amendment 4 would add a second hurdle: approval by a majority of voters in each of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. Supporters say the change preserves geographic balance; opponents say it would make it much harder for ballot initiatives to succeed.
Amendment 5 would give lawmakers five years to restructure Missouri’s tax code with the stated aim of phasing out the state income tax. Specifically, it would authorize the Legislature to broaden sales taxes to include goods and services not now taxed and to raise sales tax rates as part of an incremental transition.
Local concerns focus on housing and past use of initiatives
Speakers at the Columbia rally tied the measures to potential costs for homeowners and builders. Alice Leeper, president of the Mid-Missouri Board of Realtors, raised alarms about the effect Amendment 5 could have on housing affordability, noting that taxing trades and construction services could increase costs for new home construction and remodeling.
"What concerns me most is the impact it's going to have on housing,"
Realtors pointed to their own use of the initiative process in 2010, when a citizen-led amendment banned one-time transfer ownership taxes on property — an example they said illustrates why preserving the initiative route matters to their industry.
Quick facts for voters
- Primary election date: Aug. 4.
- Amendment 4: Requires both a statewide majority and majorities in each of Missouri’s eight congressional districts for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to pass.
- Amendment 5: Grants the Legislature authority to broaden and raise sales taxes over five years to phase out the state income tax.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Realtors at rally | More than 100 |
| Association membership cited | 26,000 |
| Donation announced | $1,000,000 to oppose Amendment 4 |
As the Aug. 4 election approaches, the Realtors’ mobilization adds a well-funded and organized voice to debates that will shape Missouri’s ballot law and tax structure. For voters, the rally underscores how professional associations and local leaders are working to influence outcomes that could affect property costs, the initiative process and the state’s broader approach to taxation.
Coverage of the amendments and local responses will continue as campaigns on both sides organize outreach across the state ahead of the primary.
