North Carolina bill seeks to eliminate constitutional marriage clause

State Sen. Michael Garrett introduced a bill in the North Carolina Senate that would repeal the state’s constitutional definition of marriage, the North Carolina State Senate reports.

Labeled SB 1025 and filed on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, the measure appears on the record under the short title: ‘Constitutional Repeal of Art. XIV Sec. 6.’

This overview is compiled from the bill text and seeks to clarify its main objectives.

SB 1025 calls for a constitutional amendment to repeal Article XIV, Section 6, which defines marriage in North Carolina as exclusively between one man and one woman, with no substitute definition introduced. The proposal directs the question to be posed on the statewide ballot as part of the November 2026 general election for voters to approve or reject the repeal. If approved by a majority, the State Board of Elections must confirm the outcome, and the change would become effective on January 1, 2027.

The 2025 regular session also saw Kennedy bring forward 38 additional bills.

The legislative process in North Carolina is described in this detailed guide. Legislation begins with a bill’s filing, its committee assignment, and requires three readings in both chambers. If one chamber amends a bill after the other has passed it, both must ultimately concur on the same version. After both chambers give final approval, the bill proceeds to the governor, who then has 10 days—or 30 if the legislature is adjourned—to act by signing, vetoing, or allowing it to become law without a signature.

Further information on other bills and related actions is available here.

Garrett holds a BSBA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, graduating in 2007.

The Democrat representing Senate District 27 was first elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019, succeeding Trudy Wade in the role.