SB 1721 - This act modifies provisions relating to initiative petitions and referenda. Standardization of Signature Sheets and Sample Sheets (Section 116.045, 116.050, 116.130) The act requires all signature sheets for initiative and referendum petitions to be on a form that is prescribed by the Secretary of State (SOS). The form is required to be made available in electronic format. Furthermore, all signatures gathered must be in black or dark ink. The text of each proposed measure as it appears on each sample sheet must be in a font not smaller than 12-point Times New Roman, with a top, bottom, left, and right margin not less than one inch. The full and correct text of all initiative and referendum petition measures must conform to constitutional requirements. Petition Forms and Circulator Requirements (Sections 116.030, 116.040, and 116.080) The act modifies the requirements to be a circulator of initiative or referendum petitions. Specifically, circulators must be: · A citizen of the United States; · 18 years of age or older; · A resident of this state, or in the alternative, physically present in this state for at least 30 consecutive days prior to collecting signatures; and · Registered to circulate signature pages with the SOS. Circulators are not permitted to be paid anything of value that is based on the number of signatures collected. The circulator forms are modified to include a phrase acknowledging that the circulator meets the aforementioned qualifications. Challenges to Ballot Titles and Certificates of Sufficiency (Sections 116.190 and 116.200) Under current law, any citizen may file an action in circuit court challenging a ballot title or a certificate of sufficiency placing a measure on the ballot. This act only permits Missouri registered voters to bring such actions. Furthermore, any party to such an action is permitted to appeal within 10 days after the entry of the judgment of the circuit court. Under current law, any action challenging a ballot title that is not fully and finally adjudicated within 180 days of filing, and more than 56 days prior to the election in which the measure is to appear, including all appeals, shall be extinguished, unless a court extends such period upon a finding of good cause for such extension. This act requires extensions to be made upon an express finding of good cause, provided that no extension shall cause the final adjudication to occur less than 56 days prior to the election. Furthermore, no court shall have the authority to issue any form of relief after time for adjudication has expired under this act. Filing and Approval of Sample Sheets (Sections 116.332 and 116.334) The act provides that sample sheets for initiative or referendum petitions may be filed at any time between the end of one general election and 6 months prior to the next general election. Under current law, prior to the collection of signatures, the SOS and Attorney General (AG) are required to review each petition for sufficiency as to form and approve or reject such petition on that basis. This act requires the SOS and AG to review each petition for compliance with constitutional requirements and approve or reject the petition, stating the reasons for rejection, if any. Public Hearing Requirement (Section 116.153) Current law requires the Joint Committee on Legislative Research to hold a public hearing in Jefferson City to take public comments concerning any proposed ballot measure within 30 days of the measure being certified for the ballot. This act repeals such requirement. This provision is identical to SB 113 (2023). This act is substantially similar to SB 1270 (2024), SB 490 (2023), and HB 703 (2023), and similar to SB 862 (2022), SB 149 (2021), SB 522 (2020), SCS/SB 5 (2019), HB 290 (2109),SS/SCS/SB 893 (2018), and HCS/HB 1289 (2018). SCOTT SVAGERA