MO HB535

Requires petition circulators to be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens, Missouri residents, and registered with the secretary of state before collecting signatures.

Prohibits circulators convicted of forgery (in Missouri or any other jurisdiction) from qualifying as petition circulators and bars payment on a per-signature basis or simultaneous circulation of multiple petitions.

Requires circulators to register with the secretary of state and provide information including name, address, whether they expect to be paid, and proof of Missouri residency before collecting any signatures.

Makes it a class A misdemeanor (punishable by up to one year in county jail or up to $10,000 fine) for circulators to falsely swear to an affidavit, receive per-signature payments, or circulate multiple petitions simultaneously.

Establishes penalties for petition signers who sign with false names, sign multiple times for the same measure, or sign while not registered to vote or not a Missouri resident; also penalizes anyone who offers money or anything of value in exchange for petition signatures as a class A misdemeanor.