ST. LOUIS - A Missouri lawmaker's new proposal could set the stage for merging St. Louis City and St. Louis County into a single governing entity.

Missouri State Rep. Ian Mackey (D-Richmond Heights) has introduced House Joint Resolution No. 27, which proposes consolidating the city and county into the "Metropolitan City of St. Louis."

If approved in Missouri's upcoming legislative session, the resolution would give voters an opportunity to decide whether to approve the merger, either in the November 2026 general election or a future state-approved special election.

The proposal envisions a unified political subdivision that encompasses both city and county jurisdictions. It includes provisions to reorganize municipal governments and districts, address financial obligations, and implement a multi-year transition process to facilitate the merger.

The proposal aims to streamline governance, enhance service delivery, and reduce redundancy across the St. Louis region.

"The territory of the county of St. Louis is extended to embrace the territory in the city of St. Louis and the county of St. Louis," one provision of the resolution reads.

The legislation follows a significant 2019 initiative from local advocacy group Better Together to merge city and county governments. The effort ultimately faltered due to widespread criticism of over a statewide voting provision and backlash over plans to appoint the first mayor of the merger.

St. Louis City and St. Louis County have been split governing entities since 1876, and local historians oftentimes refer to the decision that authorized the split as "The Great Divorce."

House Resolution 27 has been preemptively filed for the state’s 103rd General Assembly for the 2025 legislative session, which is set to begin January 8.