AREA TOWNS – Voters will have a chance to weigh in on a proposed 23rd amendment to the Vermont Constitution guaranteeing equal protection under the law, Tuesday, November 23.
An amendment was first proposed in 2019 by Sen. Ginny Lyons (D-Chittendon Southeast), but did not advance according to a 2024 VTDigger story.
The amendment, Proposal 4 (PR.4), received unanimous approval during a roll call vote in the Senate, March 11 of this year. All area senators were present for that vote and concurred: Sen. Scott Beck (R-Cal.), Sen. Ann Cummings (D-Wash.), Sen. John Morley III (R-Orl.), Sen. Andrew Perchlik (D/P-Wash.), Sen. Anne Watson (D/P-Wash.), Sen. Richard Westman (R-Lam.)
PR.4 passed the House on May 13, with 107 of 128 reps. voting in favor of it. The 14 representatives voting no and seven absentees were sprinkled throughout the state. In our area all representatives were present and supported it: Rep. Richard Bailey (R-Lam.-2), Rep. Greg Burtt (R-Cal-Wash.), Rep. Marc Mihaly (D-Wash.-6), Rep. David Yacovone (D-Lam.-Wash.), Rep. Mike Southworth (R-Cal.-2), Rep. Daniel Noyes (D-Lam.-2).
What will become Article 23 of the Vermont Constitution if ratified by voters in November reads in full: “Article 23. [Equality of rights] That the people are guaranteed equal protection under the law. The State shall not deny equal treatment under the law on account of a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin. Nothing in this Article shall be interpreted or applied to prevent the adoption or implementation of measures intended to provide equality of treatment and opportunity for members of groups that have historically been subject to discrimination.”
