SB 557 Virginia Senate · 2022 Regular Session

Constitutional amendment; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition (submitting to qualified voters).

Summary
Constitutional amendment (voter referendum);marriage; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative rightto marry. Provides for a referendum at the November 8, 2022,election to approve or reject an amendment that would repeal theconstitutional provision defining marriage as only a union betweena man and woman as well as the related provisions that are no longervalid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision inObergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015). The amendment providesthat the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the libertyof persons and requires the Commonwealth and its political subdivisionsand agents to issue marriage licenses, recognize marriages, and treatall marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex or genderof the parties to the marriage. Religious organizations and clergyacting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to performany marriage.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2022
Committee Review
Mar 2022
Senate Passage
Feb 2022
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2022 Last action Mar 8, 2022
Floor votes · Senate Feb 14, 2022

How they voted

25–14
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Feb 14, 2022
D Democratic21
21 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
4 Yea 14 Nay 1
73% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
4
Committee
7
Mar 1, 2022
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (6-Y 4-N)
lower
Feb 28, 2022
Committee
Assigned P & E sub: Subcommittee #1
lower
Feb 23, 2022
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
lower
Feb 14, 2022
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (25-Y 14-N)
upper
Feb 9, 2022
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 3-N)
upper
Jan 18, 2022
Committee
Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
upper
Jan 18, 2022
Upper · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections (10-Y 5-N)
upper
Jan 12, 2022
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
upper
Jan 12, 2022
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/22 22100392D
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors