NC committee votes to put 'right to work,' 'right to farm' amendments on 2026 ballot

North Carolina Senate lawmakers could vote this week on whether to put constitutional amendments guaranteeing the “right to farm” and the “right to work” on the ballot in November 2026. But while Republicans say it is important to give voters a say on these policies, Democrats contend the amendments are unnecessary and will have no legal effect.

Senate Bill 1081 would give voters the opportunity to enact a constitutional right to engage in farming and forestry. Senate Bill 1082 would do the same for a constitutional right to work, forbidding workplaces to require membership or nonmembership in any labor union or association.

Both amendments were passed by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Energy, and Environment on Monday afternoon. S1082 is set for a vote before the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday, while S1081 has yet to be scheduled.

The amendments are two out of six proposed amendments as of Monday that could appear on the ballot in November, which would be the most since 2018, the last time Republicans faced a midterm under President Donald Trump. Critics have suggested the amendments are a bid to juice Republican turnout in a year where the GOP is in danger of losing a U.S. Senate race in the state for the first time since 2008.




https://ncnewsline.com/2026/05/18/nc-committee-votes-to-put-right-to-work-right-to-farm-amendments-on-2026-ballot/