Senate adopts Proposal Amendment 4 to enshrine equal treatment protections in Vermont Constitution

The Vermont Senate adopted Proposal Amendment 4, an amendment to Article 7 of the Vermont Constitution that would specify the state "shall not deny equal treatment under the law on account of a person's race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin." The proposal was read on the floor, explained by the bill presenters with historical context and examples, and adopted by roll call meeting the two‑thirds requirement.

Senators weighing in emphasized the amendment’s purpose as a constitutional backstop to guard against future laws that would create or perpetuate unequal treatment. The presenting senator framed the change as consistent with national legal history and state values, and committee reporters said they removed the word "respect" from the draft after counsel advised it lacked a clear legal precedent and added "religion" explicitly.

The judiciary committee reported a favorable recommendation and the floor took a roll call on committee amendments followed by the final question. The clerk recorded votes by name during the roll call; the presiding officer announced the result showing the required supermajority and instructed that the Senate will request concurrence of the House so the proposal can continue through the constitutional amendment process (the amendment would be subject to approval by the next biennial session and then a public vote if both houses concur).

What’s next: The proposal proceeds to the House for concurrence; the transcript records committee witness lists (legal scholars and representatives of advocacy organizations) and indicates the amendment’s effective date would be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026 if ratified by voters.