HJR 174 Is the Fight of the Year
We have been talking about Missouri income tax elimination for months, and now the time is here.
Wednesday morning, January 28, 2026, the Missouri House Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on HJR 174, one of the most consequential tax proposals Missouri has considered in years.
HJR 174 would place the future of Missouri’s income tax directly in the hands of voters and set the state on a path toward eliminating the individual income tax.
What HJR 174 Actually Does
HJR 174 is a proposed constitutional amendment. That means if it passes both houses in Jefferson City and is signed by the Governor, it will need to be approved in a statewide vote.
If approved by voters, the amendment would:
- – Prevent the imposition of a state individual income tax beginning in 2031, provided that constitutionally defined revenue growth triggers are satisfied.
- – Lock in the elimination of the income tax once those triggers are met, ensuring the tax cannot quietly return in the future.
- – Restrict sales and use tax expansions, allowing them only if the sole purpose is to reduce and eliminate the individual income tax.
- – Require adjustments to local tax rates so that changes made to support income tax elimination do not become an excuse for permanent tax increases elsewhere.
HJR 174 is designed to do two things at once: eliminate Missouri’s income tax responsibly, and prevent it from being replaced by backdoor tax hikes.
Why This Matters
Income taxes reduce take-home pay, discourage investment, and make it harder for states to compete for jobs and families.
Phasing out the income tax means:
- – Bigger paychecks for working Missourians
- – More investment and job creation
- – A more competitive Missouri economy
This is not an untested idea. Across the country, states are moving toward eliminating personal income taxes using structured phase-outs and safeguards.
How to Watch the Hearing Live
The Missouri House livestreams committee hearings online. To watch the Commerce Committee hearing on HJR 174 at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2026:
- Visit the House Hearing page.
- Click on “Live Feed.”
How to Submit Written Testimony for HJR 174
If you cannot attend the hearing in person, you can still make your position part of the official legislative record. Missourians are allowed to submit written testimony electronically for House committee hearings.
Submitting testimony matters. Committee members and staff review these submissions, and they become part of the permanent public record.
Click here to submit testimony.
What to Say
Your testimony does not need to be long or technical. A few clear sentences are enough.
- – State that you are submitting testimony in support of HJR 174.
- – Briefly explain why phasing out Missouri’s income tax matters to you.
- – Be respectful and concise.
Even a short message helps show lawmakers that Missourians are paying attention and engaged in this process.
HJR 174 is a serious proposal with serious momentum. It would put Missouri on a clear path toward ending the income tax while protecting taxpayers from backdoor increases.
Moments like this do not come often. Whether you watch the hearing, submit testimony, or contact your legislators, what matters most is showing up and being counted.
This is how real policy change happens.
Andy Bakker
Executive Director
Liberty Alliance USA