North Carolina HB 1242: Modernize Law of the Land Clause.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1242

Short Title: Modernize Law of the Land Clause. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Cook and Greenfield (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
July 1, 2026
*H1242-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE I, SECTION 19, OF THE NORTH CAROLINA 2
CONSTITUTION TO MODERNIZE THE LANGUAGE OF THE LAW OF THE LAND 3
CLAUSE. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1.(a) Article I, Section 19, of the North Carolina Constitution reads as 6
rewritten: 7
"Sec. 19. Law of the land; equal protection of the laws. 8
No person shall be taken, imprisoned, or disseized of his freehold, liberties, or privileges, or 9
outlawed, or exiled, or in any manner deprived of his life, liberty, or property, but by the law of 10
the land. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws; nor shall any person be 11
subjected to discrimination by the State because of race, color, religion, or national origin." 12
SECTION 1.(b) The amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act shall be submitted 13
to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 14
2026, which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing elections at that 15
time. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 16
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 17
Constitutional amendment to modernize the language of the law of the land clause in 18
Article I, Section 19, of the North Carolina Constitution." 19
SECTION 1.(c) The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the 20
referendum conducted under Section 1(b) of this act. If a majority of votes cast on the question 21
are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act, the Secretary of State shall enroll 22
the amendment among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the 23
question are against the amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act, the amendment shall have 24
no effect. 25
SECTION 1.(d) If the certification from the State Board of Elections under Section 26
1(c) of this act reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment 27
set out in Section 1(a) of this act, the amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act is effective 28
upon certification. 29
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. 30