GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 459
Short Title: Constitutional Repeal of Art. XIV Sec. 6. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Garrett, Grafstein, and Chitlik (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 25, 2025
*S459 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONST ITUTION AND REPEAL A 2
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION THAT RECOGNIZES MARRIAGE BETWEEN ON E 3
MAN AND ONE WOMAN AS THE ONLY DOMESTIC L EGAL 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