SJ 5 Virginia Senate · 2022 Regular Session

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

Summary
Constitutional amendment (second reference);marriage; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative rightto marry. Repeals the constitutional provision defining marriageas only a union between one man and one woman as well as the relatedprovisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United StatesSupreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644(2015). The amendment provides that the right to marry is a fundamentalright inherent in the liberty of persons and requires the Commonwealthand 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. Religiousorganizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.
Bill status failed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2021
Committee Review
Feb 2022
Senate Passage
Feb 2022
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Dec 22, 2021 Last action Mar 8, 2022
Floor votes · Senate Feb 15, 2022

How they voted

22–11
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 34
Feb 15, 2022
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican16
4 Yea 11 Nay 1
68% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
5
Committee
7
Feb 28, 2022
Committee
Assigned P & E sub: Subcommittee #1
lower
Feb 22, 2022
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
lower
Feb 15, 2022
Upper · Passed
Read third time and agreed to by Senate (25-Y 14-N)
upper
Feb 14, 2022
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 9, 2022
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 3-N)
upper
Jan 20, 2022
Committee
Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
upper
Jan 20, 2022
Upper · Passed
Motion to rerefer to committee agreed to
upper
Jan 18, 2022
Upper · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections (10-Y 5-N)
upper
Dec 22, 2021
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
upper
Dec 22, 2021
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/22 22100319D
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors