SB 31

  • Delaware Senate Bill
  • 151st General Assembly (2021-2022)
  • Introduced in Senate Jan 22, 2021
  • Passed Senate Jan 21, 2021
  • Passed House Jan 28, 2021
  • Governor

An Act Concurring In A Proposed Amendment To Article I Of The Delaware Constitution Relating To Equal Rights.

Abstract

This Act is the second leg of a constitutional amendment to add race, color, and national origin to § 21 of Article I of the Delaware Constitution to explicitly declare that protection against discrimination based on race, color, and national origin is one of Delaware's fundamental rights. The first leg of this constitutional amendment was Senate Bill 191 of the 150th General Assembly, published in Chapter 287 of Volume 82 of the Laws of Delaware. On passage of this second leg by this General Assembly this amendment will become part of the Delaware Constitution. Since the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted on July 9, 1868, with Delaware ratifying it in 1901, at least 15 states have added a provision to their state constitution that prohibits the denial or abridgement of equal rights under the law based on race, color, or national origin. In 2019, Delaware amended the state constitution to prohibit the denial or abridgement of equal rights under the law based on sex, but no such prohibition exists as to race, color, or national origin. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly when the General Assembly amends the Delaware Constitution.

Bill Sponsors (45)

Votes


Jan 28, 2021

Jan 21, 2021

Actions


Jan 28, 2021

House

Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES

Jan 26, 2021

House

Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 4 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
Administration

Jan 22, 2021

House

Assigned to Administration Committee in House

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Administration

Jan 21, 2021

Senate

Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 6 Favorable

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
Executive

Senate

Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

Jan 12, 2021

Senate

Introduced and Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Executive

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
Bill Text PDF HTML

Related Documents

Document Format
No related documents.

Sources

Data on Open States is updated periodically throughout the day from the official website of the Delaware General Assembly.

If you notice any inconsistencies with these official sources, feel free to file an issue.