Missouri voters narrowly legalized abortion in 2024 after outside groups spent $31.5 million.
A Jackson County judge then used that amendment to strike down nearly every abortion safety law on the books.
Missouri's attorney general says abortion clinics now answer to almost no one.
The Judge Who Erased Missouri's Abortion Clinic Safety Rules in One Ruling
Missouri once had some of the strongest laws in the country protecting women and unborn babies from unsafe abortion practices.
That started to unravel in November 2024, when voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment creating a right to abortion.
The vote was close, about 52 percent, after pro-abortion groups spent more than $31.5 million lying to voters about what the amendment would actually do.
Pro-life leaders warned it would gut Missouri's safety laws.
They were right.
The ruling came in June, from Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang, and it gutted nearly everything Missouri had left to regulate abortion clinics.
Licensing requirements for abortion facilities: gone.
The rule requiring abortion doctors to hold hospital admitting privileges: gone.
The 72-hour waiting period Missouri once required before an abortion: gone.
Even the informed consent pamphlet telling women that the life of each human being begins at conception was struck down.
Planned Parenthood and the ACLU sued to have these protections thrown out, arguing they made abortion harder to get rather than safer.
Zhang agreed with them.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is appealing that ruling.
Why Hanaway Is Spending State Money to Promote Amendment 3 Before November
While that appeal plays out, Hanaway's office is not waiting around.
Her office is airing a statewide television and radio ad on more than 350 stations through September 30.
It is paying for the $167,000 buy out of the attorney general's Merchandising Practices Revolving Fund, money state law allows to be spent on consumer education.
"As the chief legal officer for the State of Missouri, the Attorney General's Office is concerned about the current status of women's health laws," said Stephanie Whitaker, a spokesperson for Hanaway's office.
"She believes it is important to provide clear information to Missourians."
In the ad, Missouri family medicine doctor Katy Liu lays out exactly what Zhang's ruling means.
"For years, our laws protected women by requiring clinics to obtain licenses, pass basic health inspections, and have emergency protocols," Liu says.
"But Planned Parenthood sued, trying to block safety requirements that protect women. Today, abortion clinics in Missouri are not required to meet the same basic medical standards as other healthcare facilities."
Liu tells women to ask questions before any procedure and make sure their care "meets the level of protection every patient deserves."
That message is aimed squarely at the ballot box.
Missouri lawmakers referred Amendment 3 through House Joint Resolution 73, passing the House 103 to 51 and the Senate 21 to 11.
It goes before voters November 3, and it would repeal the 2024 amendment entirely.
It would ban abortion except for medical emergencies or, in the first 12 weeks, pregnancies from rape or incest.
It would also bar so-called gender transition procedures on minors.
The Money Race Behind Missouri's Amendment 3 Vote
Operation Rescue President Troy Newman does not think Missourians should need much convincing.
"This court ruling has literally declared it unconstitutional to enforce laws that protect women and their babies from shoddy and dangerous abortion practices," Newman said.
"Make Missouri abortion-free again!"
Missouri Right to Life Executive Director Susan Klein said Amendment 3 "will restore protection for women, children and babies in regards to abortion."
"Parental rights will be restored. Health and Safety for women will be restored," she said.
None of this fight changes what is already available to a scared Missouri mom tonight.
Missouri runs a state program called Alternatives to Abortion, connecting pregnant women with free ultrasounds, prenatal care, diapers, formula, housing help, and job placement through a statewide network of centers.
That safety net does not depend on how November goes.
Restoring any of it will cost money, and right now the other side has more of it.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg alone gave $1.25 million to Stop the Ban, the political committee fighting Amendment 3.
That single check is bigger than the entire war chest of Her Health, Her Future, the leading committee backing the amendment, which has raised just over $1 million.
Stop the Ban has raised more than $6.5 million total.
Her Health, Her Future does have Gov. Mike Kehoe and First Lady Claudia Kehoe in its corner.
Missouri voters have 62 days to decide whether the money or the medicine wins.
Sources:
- Steven Ertelt, "Missouri AG Promotes Amendment 3 to Save Babies From Abortion," LifeNews.com, September 2, 2026.
- Ballotpedia, "Missouri Amendment 3, Prohibit Abortion and Gender Transition Procedures for Minors Amendment (2026)."
- Missouri Independent, "Missouri Judge Strikes Down Nearly All State Abortion Regulations," June 18, 2026.
- Missouri Independent, "Missouri AG Spends State Funds on Abortion PSA Ahead of November Amendment 3 Vote," September 1, 2026.
- KCUR, "Bloomberg Gives $1.25 Million to Missouri Abortion Rights Campaign," August 9, 2026.
- Ballotpedia, "Missouri Amendment 3, Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative (2024)."
- Missouri Alternatives to Abortion, "Services," MOA2A.com, accessed September 2026.
