Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to marry, removes same-sex marriage prohibition.
Summary
Constitutional amendment (first reference); marriage; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry. Repeals the constitutional provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015). The amendment provides that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of persons and requires the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions and agents to issue marriage licenses, recognize marriages, and treat all marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex or gender of the parties to the marriage. Religious organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to perform any marriage. This resolution incorporates HJ 539 and HJ 557.
Bill status
in committee
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2021
Committee Review
Mar 2021
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2021
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2021
Last action Mar 31, 2021
Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2021
How they voted
59–33
Passed · 7 other
Total votes 99
Feb 4, 2021
D
Democratic54
96% Yea
R
Republican45
73% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
23
Key actions
6
Committee
9
Mar 31, 2021
Committee
Assigned Chapter 517 (effective 7/1/21)
lower
Feb 16, 2021
Upper · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections (9-Y 4-N 1-A)
upper
Feb 5, 2021
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
upper
Feb 4, 2021
Lower · Passed
Engrossed by House - committee substitute HJ582H1
lower
Feb 4, 2021
Lower · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 21104282D-H1
lower
Feb 4, 2021
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (59-33-7)
house of delegates
Feb 3, 2021
Lower · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (14-Y 8-N)
lower
Feb 1, 2021
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (4-Y 2-N)
lower
Jan 20, 2021
Committee
Assigned P & E sub: Constitutional Amendments
lower
Jan 13, 2021
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
lower
Jan 13, 2021
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 21102567D
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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