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H646 • 2025

Const. Amend.: Remove Slavery as Punishment.

Const. Amend.: Remove Slavery as Punishment.

Elections
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Buansi, Charles Smith, A. Jones, T. Brown, Ager, Baker, Belk, K. Brown, Cervania, Colvin, Greenfield, Harrison, Hawkins, F. Jackson, Logan, Longest, Lopez, G. Pierce, R. Pierce, Price, Quick, Roberson, Rubin, von Haefen
Last action
2025-04-02
Official status
Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Const. Amend.: Remove Slavery as Punishment.

Const.

What This Bill Does

  • Const.
  • Amend.: Remove Slavery as Punishment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-02 House

    Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  2. 2025-04-02 House

    Passed 1st Reading

  3. 2025-04-01 House

    Filed

Official Summary Text

Const. Amend.: Remove Slavery as Punishment.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 646

Short Title: Const. Amend.: Remove Slavery as Punishment. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Buansi, Charles Smith, A. Jones, and T. Brown (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
April 2, 2025
*H646-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO MAKE ABSOL UTE THE PROHIBITION AGAINST SLAVERY AND 2
INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE IN THE STATE. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. Section 17 of Article I of the North Carolina Constitution reads as 5
rewritten: 6
"Sec. 17. Slavery and involuntary servitude. 7
Slavery is forever prohibited. Involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime 8
whereof the parties have been adjudged guilty, is and involuntary servitude are forever 9
prohibited." 10
SECTION 2. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to 11
the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2026, 12
which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing elections at that time. 13
The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 14
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 15
Constitutional amendment providing that slavery and involuntary servitude are 16
forever prohibited." 17
SECTION 3. The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the referendum 18
conducted under Section 2 of this act. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of 19
the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment 20
among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the question are against 21
the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the amendment shall have no effect. 22
SECTION 4. If the certification from the State Board of Elections under Section 3 23
of this act reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set 24
out in Section 1 of this act, the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act is effective upon 25
certification. 26
SECTION 5. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becom es 27
law. 28