Right-to-work legislation had been previously passed by the Missouri General Assembly in 2015, but was vetoed by Democratic governor Jay Nixon.

[2] The proposition appeared on the ballot as follows: Do the people of the state of Missouri want to adopt Senate Bill 19 ("Right-to-Work") as passed by the general assembly in 2017, which prohibits as a condition of employment the forced membership in a labor organization (union) or forced payments of dues in full or pro-rata (fair-share); make any activity which violates employees' rights illegal and ineffective; allow legal remedies for anyone injured as a result of another person violating or threatening to violate employees' rights; and which shall not apply to union agreements entered into before the effective date of Senate Bill 19?

If adopted, Senate Bill 19 will amend Missouri law to prohibit, as a condition of employment, forced membership in a labor organization (union) or forced payments of dues or fees, in full or pro-rata ("fair-share"), to a union.

A lawsuit was filed in Cole County to change the ballot title, arguing that using the word "adopt" was misleading, given that the law had already been passed by the General Assembly.

Circuit court judge Daniel Green ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, re-writing the ballot title.