JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri’s House Speaker said lawmakers are working on a plan to challenge Amendment 3.

Less than 24 hours after hundreds of Amendment 3 supporters gathered in the Capitol to celebrate November’s win, leadership said legislation is being filed to make Missouri the most pro-life state it can be. House Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, said Thursday that he believes a complete repeal of the referendum won’t be possible.

A long-debated political issue is once again knocking on the doorstep in Jefferson City. Nearly 250 Amendment 3 supporters went door-to-door Wednesday, telling lawmakers to leave the constitutional referendum approved by voters alone.

“We’ve always known that our opposition won’t rest and so we can’t rest either,” Abortion Action MO Executive Director Mallory Schwarz said. “We have changed Missouri’s constitution to protect a fundamental right to reproductive freedom but it’s going to be a little bit of a political football.”

Patterson said Thursday Republicans want to challenge the amendment, explaining how the abortion initiative faces debate later on in session.

“I think we’re all trying to come up with a plan, as I’ve said, that makes Missouri the most pro-life state it can be,” Patterson said. “It’s hard because we want to make it as pro-life as possible but I don’t think the voters would pass a repeal, so we have to find something that’s in between.”

Patterson acknowledged the challenges ahead and established a working group to determine the specific details of the plan.

“Whatever we do has to go back to the voters,” Patterson said. “We just don’t know what that vehicle is yet and I think things will coalesce during the middle of session and then the finale will happen at the end of session.”

Missouri’s new governor said he’s in favor of the General Assembly pushing back.

“We will support any bill that we think is constitutionally right; that also gives the ability for Missourians to protect innocent life,” Gov. Mike Kehoe said.

Even though the state’s abortion ban was overturned in November, the procedure still isn’t being offered at Planned Parenthood clinics, as both sides await a judge’s ruling.

“We know there are folks out there that oppose this issue,” ACLU of Missouri Deputy Policy Director Tori Schafer said. “They will keep fighting and our folks who are in the majority will keep showing up and pushing back. We’re working really hard to get those Planned Parenthood clinics open as soon as possible.”

Kehoe said Missourians can expect to hear more about his thoughts on protecting innocent life during his State of the State Address Tuesday, where he will outline his legislative priorities for lawmakers.