Const. Amend./Life at Fertilization.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1232

Short Title: Const. Amend./Life at Fertilization. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Kidwell and Moss (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
May 14, 2026
*H1232-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION TO DECLARE THAT A 2
DISTINCT AND SEPARAT E HUMAN LIFE BEGINS AT THE MOMENT OF 3
FERTILIZATION AND SHALL BE HELD INVIOLATE AS AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON 4
AND PROTECTED BY THE LAWS OF THIS STATE FROM THE MOMENT OF 5
FERTILIZATION UNTIL NATURAL DEATH, SO LO NG AS THAT PERSON IS NOT 6
CONVICTED OF A CAPITAL OFFENSE. 7
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 8
SECTION 1. Article I of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding a 9
new section to read: 10
"Sec. 39. Life begins at fertilization. 11
It is a matter of indisputable scientific fact that a distinct and separate human life begins at 12
the moment of fertilization . As such, that new human life is recognized by the State as an 13
individual person, entitled to the protection of the laws of this State from the moment of 14
fertilization until the moment of natural death. Any person who willfully seeks to destroy the life 15
of another person, by any means, at any stage of life, or succeeds in doing so, shall be held 16
accountable for attempted murder or for first degree murder, respectively. Any person has the 17
right to defend his or her own life or the life of another person, ev en by the use of deadly force 18
if necessary, from willful destruction by another person. The State has an interest and a duty to 19
defend innocent persons from willful destruction of their lives and to punish those who take the 20
lives of persons, born or unborn, who have not committed any crime punishable by death." 21
SECTION 2. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to 22
the qualified voters of the State at the general election in 2026, which election shall be conducted 23
under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used 24
in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting 25
systems and ballots shall be: 26
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 27
Constitutional amendment to recognize that a distinct and separate human life begins 28
at the moment of fertilization, and this individual person is entitled to the protection of the laws 29
of the State from the moment of fertilization until the moment of natural death." 30
SECTION 3. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment 31
set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendment to the 32
Secretary of State, and the amendment becomes effective January 1, 2027. The Secretary of State 33
shall enroll the amendment so certified among the permanent records of that office. 34
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1232-First Edition
SECTION 4. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 1
law. 2