HJR 119 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Proposes a constitutional amendment changing how judges are selected to certain courts

HJR 119 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how judges are selected in Missouri. It would require the governor to appoint judges from three nominees provided by a nonpartisan judicial commission for vacancies in the supreme court, court of appeals, and St. Louis city/Jackson County circuit courts. For other judicial circuits, voters would decide at elections whether to adopt this appointment method (instead of the current system) or maintain the existing process, with changes allowed only once every four years. The amendment must be approved by voters in 2026.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Last action Apr 9, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 6 PRESENT: 0
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Referred: General Laws(H)
lower
Dec 1, 2025
Introduced
Prefiled (H)
lower
1 primary · 25 co-sponsors

Sponsors