Since Utah and Nebraska’s legislatures succeeded in putting bills on the 2020 ballot, more states have introduced bills have been introduced to repeal penal exceptions from state constitutional bans on slavery and involuntary servitude:
- SJR0159 (Tennessee) – introduced by Sen. Raumesh Akbari, to amend Article I Section 33 of the Tennessee Constitution (must be passed by supermajority in 2 consecutive sessions before being placed on ballot, and must be approved by the majority of those who voted in the last gubernatorial election)
- SJR24 (Oregon) – introduced by Sen. Jackie Winters, James Manning Jr, Lew Frederick and Rep. Janelle Bynum to amend Section 34, Article I of the Oregon State Constitution (must be passed by supermajority before going to ballot in 2020)
- Proposal 2 (Vermont) – to amend Chapter 1, Article 1 of the Vermont State Constitution (must be passed by supermajority in 2 consecutive sessions)
A similar bill to SJR0159 passed the Tennessee House unanimously a few years ago but died in the Tennessee Senate before the end of the session.
