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 SERVITUD E 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 becomes 27
law. 28