AN ACT to amend article i, Section 19, of the north carolina CONSTITUTION to modernize the language of the law of the LAnd clause.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  Article I, Section 19, of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:

Sec. 19. Law of the land; equal protection of the laws.

No person shall be taken, imprisoned, or disseized of his freehold, liberties, or privileges, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any manner deprived of his life, liberty, or property, but by the law of the land. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws; nor shall any person be subjected to discrimination by the State because of race, color, religion, or national origin.

SECTION 1.(b)  The amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2026, which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing elections at that time. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:

[ ] FOR          [ ] AGAINST

Constitutional amendment to modernize the language of the law of the land clause in Article I, Section 19, of the North Carolina Constitution.

SECTION 1.(c)  The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the referendum conducted under Section 1(b) of this act. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act, the Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the question are against the amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act, the amendment shall have no effect.

SECTION 1.(d)  If the certification from the State Board of Elections under Section 1(c) of this act reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act, the amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act is effective upon certification.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.