Mo. Senate passes plan to shrink House

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state Senate has passed a proposed constitutional amendment that could shrink the size of the Missouri House as a way to save money in future state budgets.

The measure, passed 21-12 by the Senate, would ask voters next year if the number of House districts should be reduced to 103 from the current 163. If approved by voters, the change would take effect in 2023 -- after all the current members have left office and new districts have been redrawn based on the 2020 Census.

To get to the ballot, the proposal first must pass the House. But that appears unlikely. Earlier this month, a House committee defeated a similar proposal to shrink the membership of its chamber.