Signatures submitted for minimum wage and paid sick leave initiative in Missouri

A Missouri campaign supporting a minimum wage and paid sick leave ballot initiative submitted more than 210,000 signatures to the secretary of state on May 1, 2024.

The initiative would increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in 2026, starting at $13.75 per hour in 2025. It would also require employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

The initiative would require businesses with 15 or fewer employees to provide at least five paid sick days per year, while those with more than 15 employees must offer at least seven paid sick days annually. Employees can use this sick leave for their own illnesses or to care for family members.

The minimum wage in Missouri is currently $12.30 per hour. This was established when voters approved Proposition B in 2018, which increased the minimum wage each year until reaching $12 in 2023 and then made increases or decreases based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. Proposition B was approved by 62.34% of voters on Nov. 6, 2018. Previously, Missouri voters approved another ballot measure, also called Proposition B, in 2006, which raised the state minimum wage to $6.50 per hour or to the level of the federal minimum wage, if higher. That measure was approved by 75.94% of voters on Nov. 7, 2006.

In order for the initiative to qualify for the ballot, it will need a minimum requirement of valid signatures found in six of the eight state congressional districts. The minimum requirement is equal to 5 percent of the votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election. This means that the absolute minimum of valid signatures required statewide is 107,246 total, but it will need to reach the requirement in six of eight congressional districts to qualify for the 2024 ballot.

The deadline for all Missouri ballot initiative campaigns to submit signatures is May 5, 2024.