History of Senate Bill 2 (North Carolina General Assembly, 2015 Session) in Timeline

Senate Bill 2 (North Carolina General Assembly, 2015 Session)

Senate Bill 2, enacted in North Carolina in 2015, permits magistrates, assistant registers of deeds, and deputy registers of deeds to recuse themselves from performing marriage-related duties if they hold a sincerely held religious objection. This primarily impacts the issuance of marriage licenses. The bill was largely seen as a response to the legalization of same-sex marriage and allows officials to opt out of participating in same-sex marriage ceremonies due to religious beliefs. Critics argue that the law enables discrimination against same-sex couples, while supporters defend it as protecting religious freedom.

October 10, 2014: Same-Sex Marriage Legalized in North Carolina

On October 10, 2014, U.S. District Court Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. ruled in the case of General Synod of the United Church of Christ v. Cooper that North Carolina's denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples was unconstitutional, thereby legalizing same-sex marriage in the state.

February 25, 2015: North Carolina Senate Passes Senate Bill 2

On February 25, 2015, the North Carolina Senate passed Senate Bill 2 with 32 ayes, 16 noes, and 2 absent.

May 28, 2015: North Carolina House Passes and Governor Vetoes Senate Bill 2

On May 28, 2015, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed SB 2 with 67 ayes, 43 noes, and 10 absent. On the same day, Governor Pat McCrory vetoed SB 2.

June 1, 2015: North Carolina Senate Overrides Governor's Veto of Senate Bill 2

On June 1, 2015, the North Carolina Senate voted with 32 ayes, 16 noes, and 2 absent, in favor of overriding the governor's veto of Senate Bill 2.

June 11, 2015: North Carolina House Overrides Governor's Veto of Senate Bill 2; Law Takes Effect

On June 11, 2015, the North Carolina House of Representatives voted with 69 ayes, 41 noes, and 10 absent, in favor of overriding the governor's veto of Senate Bill 2. The law went into effect as Chapter Session Law 2015-75.

December 9, 2015: Ansley v. North Carolina Federal Lawsuit Filed

On December 9, 2015, the federal lawsuit Ansley v. North Carolina was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The lawsuit challenged the constitutionality of North Carolina's Senate Bill 2, which allowed magistrates and other public officials to refuse to perform marriages based on religious objections.

2015: Senate Bill 2 Enacted

In 2015, Senate Bill 2, also known as "An act to allow magistrates, assistant registers of deeds, and deputy registers of deeds to recuse themselves from performing duties related to marriage ceremonies due to sincerely held religious objection," was enacted in North Carolina. This anti-LGBT law allows state magistrates, assistant registers of deeds, or deputy register of deeds to be exempt from issuing marriage licenses for marriages they object to based on sincerely held religious beliefs.

September 20, 2016: Ansley v. North Carolina Lawsuit Dismissed

On September 20, 2016, Judge Cogburn dismissed the Ansley v. North Carolina lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 2. The dismissal was based on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked standing, as they had not suffered direct harm under the law.