SJ 270 Virginia Senate · 2021 Regular Session

Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to marry, removes same-sex marriage prohibition.

Summary
Constitutional amendment (first reference);marriage. Proposes the repeal of the constitutional amendmentdealing with marriage that was approved by referendum at the November2006 election. That amendment to the Bill of Rights (i) defines marriage as "only a union between one man and one woman"; (ii) prohibits theCommonwealth and its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing"a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intendsto approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects ofmarriage"; and (iii) prohibits the Commonwealth or its politicalsubdivisions from creating or recognizing "another union, partnership,or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits,obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage." The provisions ofthis section of the Constitution of Virginia are no longer validas a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefellv. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___ (June 26, 2015).
Bill status in committee 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jul 2020
Committee Review
Mar 2021
Senate Passage
Feb 2021
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2021
Governor
Introduced Jul 20, 2020 Last action Mar 31, 2021
Floor votes · Senate Feb 5, 2021 · House of Delegates Feb 15, 2021

How they voted

310
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 33
Feb 5, 2021
D Democratic17
17 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican16
14 Yea 2
87% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
7
Committee
8
Mar 31, 2021
Committee
Assigned Chapter 518 (effective 7/1/21)
lower
Feb 15, 2021
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (59-37-3)
house of delegates
Feb 10, 2021
Lower · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections (14-Y 8-N)
lower
Feb 7, 2021
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
lower
Feb 5, 2021
Upper · Passed
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SJ270S1
upper
Feb 5, 2021
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to (19-Y 19-N)
upper
Feb 5, 2021
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (31-0-2)
senate
Feb 4, 2021
Upper · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (9-Y 4-N 2-A)
upper
Feb 4, 2021
Upper · Passed
Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
upper
Jul 20, 2020
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
upper
Jul 20, 2020
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/21 21100202D
upper
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors