Text of NC S 459 (2025)

Constitutional Repeal of Art. XIV Sec. 6

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S D SENATE BILL DRS35193-NJy-19A Short Title: Constitutional Repeal of Art. XIV Sec. 6. (Public) Sponsors: Senators Garrett, Grafstein, and Chitlik (Primary Sponsors). Referred to: *DRS35193-NJy-19A* A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1 AN ACT TO AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION AND REPEAL A 2 CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION THAT RECOGNIZES MARRIAGE BETWEEN ONE 3 MAN AND ONE WOMAN AS THE ONLY DOMESTIC LEGAL UNION THAT IS 4 VALID OR RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE. 5 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6 SECTION 1. Section 6 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution reads as 7 rewritten: 8 "Sec. 6. Marriage. 9 Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be 10 valid or recognized in this State. This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into 11 contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the 12 rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts." 13 SECTION 2. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to 14 the qualified voters of the State at the general election in November 2026, which election shall 15 be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or 16 both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be 17 used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 18 "[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 19 Constitutional amendment to repeal a constitutional provision that recognizes 20 marriage between one man and one woman as the only domestic legal union that is valid and 21 recognized in this State." 22 SECTION 3. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment 23 set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendment to the 24 Secretary of State, and the amendment becomes effective January 1, 2027. The Secretary of State 25 shall enroll the amendment so certified among the permanent records of that office. 26 SECTION 4. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 27 law. 28 FILED SENATE Mar 24, 2025 S.B. 459 PRINCIPAL CLERK