Declaration of rights; government for the people; equality of rights
This bill proposes adding a new article to Vermont's state constitution that guarantees equal treatment under the law regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin. The amendment would require the government to ensure all people receive equal protection and prohibit denying rights based on these characteristics. It also explicitly allows for measures designed to help groups that have historically faced discrimination. If voters approve this change in the 2026 election, it would become part of the state's founding legal document.
Bill status
passed both
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2023
Committee Review
May 2024
House Passage
May 2024
Senate Passage
May 2024
Governor
Introduced May 12, 2023
Last action May 10, 2024
Floor votes · Senate Apr 23, 2024 · House May 8, 2024
How they voted
29–0
Passed
Total votes 29
Apr 23, 2024
D
Democratic22
100% Yea
R
Republican7
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
44
Key actions
22
Committee
16
Amendments
12
May 10, 2024
Upper · Passed
As adopted by Senate and House
upper
May 10, 2024
Upper · Passed
House message: House adopted in concurrence
upper
May 8, 2024
Lower · Passed
Adopted in concurrence
lower
May 8, 2024
Lower · Passed
Roll Call Results Passed -- Needed 75 of 150 to Pass -- Yeas = 140, Nays = 4
lower
May 8, 2024
Lower · Passed
Rep. Rachelson of Burlington reported for the Committee on Judiciary
lower
Apr 25, 2024
Introduced
Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
lower
Apr 23, 2024
Upper · Passed
Proposed Constitutional Amendment agreed to on roll call, Passed -- Needed 20 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 28, Nays = 0
upper
Apr 23, 2024
Upper · Passed
Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary, as amended, agreed to on Roll Call
upper
Apr 23, 2024
Upper · Passed
Roll Call, Required by Rule, Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 29, Nays = 0
upper
Apr 23, 2024
Upper · Passed
Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary amended as moved by Senator Hashim, Baruth, Norris, Sears, and Vyhovsky
upper
Apr 23, 2024
Upper · Passed
Committee on Judiciary adopted(reported favorably) on amendment offered by Sens. Hashim et al
upper
Apr 23, 2024
Introduced
Proposed constitutional amendment, text
upper
Apr 23, 2024
Upper · Passed
Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Hashim for Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 23, 2024
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report on Amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 23, 2024
Introduced
Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Hashim, Baruth, Norris, Sears, and Vyhovsky
upper
Apr 23, 2024
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 23, 2024
Introduced
Unfinished Business/Proposed Constitutional Amendment
upper
Apr 19, 2024
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report on Amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 19, 2024
Introduced
Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Hashim, Baruth, Norris, Sears, and Vyhovsky
upper
Apr 19, 2024
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 19, 2024
Introduced
New Business/Proposed Constitutional Amendment
upper
Apr 18, 2024
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report on Amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 18, 2024
Introduced
Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Hashim, Baruth, Norris, Sears, and Vyhovsky
upper
Apr 18, 2024
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 18, 2024
Introduced
Proposed amendment to the Constitution
upper
Apr 17, 2024
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 17, 2024
Introduced
Proposed amendment to the Constitution, notice day 5
upper
Apr 16, 2024
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 16, 2024
Introduced
Proposed amendment to the Constitution, notice day 4
upper
Apr 12, 2024
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 12, 2024
Introduced
Proposed amendment to the Constitution, notice day 3
upper
Apr 11, 2024
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 11, 2024
Introduced
Proposed amendment to the Constitution, notice day 2
upper
Apr 10, 2024
Upper · Passed
Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 10, 2024
Introduced
Proposed amendment to the Constitution, notice day 1
upper
May 12, 2023
Introduced
Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary
upper
3 primary · 20 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Ginny Lyons
DDemocratic
P
Kesha Ram Hinsdale
DDemocratic
P
Nader Hashim
DDemocratic
Co
Alison Clarkson
DDemocratic
Co
Andrew Perchlik
DDemocratic/Progressive
Co
Ann Cummings
DDemocratic
Co
Anne Watson
DDemocratic
Co
Becca White
DDemocratic
Co
Brian Campion
DDemocratic
Co
CB
Chris Bray
DDemocratic
Co
DS
Dick Sears
DDemocratic
Co
IW
Irene Wrenner
DDemocratic
Co
JK
Jane Kitchel
DDemocratic
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about PR 4
Scope: VT
Hi! I can help you understand PR 4. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline