Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has signed a bill repealing a law that guaranteed paid sick leave and automatic minimum wage increases for workers. The repeal, coming eight months after voters approved the measure, will take effect on August 28.
The paid sick leave law had allowed employees to earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, starting from May 1. By the time the law is repealed, a full-time worker putting in 40 hours a week could have accrued around 22 hours of paid sick leave. Workers who have not used their sick leave by the end of August may lose the chance to use this benefit afterward.
Governor Kehoe, a Republican, called the original law a heavy burden for businesses due to its record-keeping requirements. At the same time, he signed a package of tax breaks that include excluding capital gains from individual incomes taxes, new tax breaks for seniors and disabled residents, and removing sales tax from diapers and feminine hygiene products. Kehoe said these moves protect Missouri families, small business owners, and job creators by cutting taxes and rolling back mandates.
Missouri’s largest business group, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had pushed hard to get the paid sick leave law repealed, saying the policies would hurt jobs. However, many workers and rights advocates felt the repeal was a setback. Richard von Glahn, who sponsored the original ballot initiative, said many parents needed paid sick leave to care for sick children without risking their financial stability. He described the governor’s decision as a betrayal to working families.
Missouri was one of three states—along with Alaska and Nebraska—to approve paid sick leave measures last November. Of those, only Alaska’s law remains untouched. Nebraska’s law was also changed by lawmakers, who exempted small businesses and specific workers from the requirements.
Missouri voters may soon have another chance to bring paid sick leave back. Von Glahn has submitted a new proposal for a constitutional amendment that would reinstate the paid sick leave and wage provisions. Because it would be a constitutional change, the Missouri Legislature wouldn’t be able to alter or repeal it without another public vote. Supporters are still deciding whether to try putting the measure on the 2026 ballot.
This repeal is a significant moment in the ongoing debate over workers’ benefits in Missouri. While businesses cheer the rollback as a win for economic growth, many employees see it as a loss of a vital safety net. The fight over paid sick leave and fair wages in the state is far from over.