Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Constitutional Amendment
SJ 11: Constitutional amendment; marriage between two individuals.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SJ 11 is a constitutional amendment introduced in the Virginia Senate on January 3, 2024. According to its official title, it concerns: Constitutional amendment; marriage between two individuals. Primary sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin. It lists 13 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (November 19, 2024): Left in Privileges and Elections.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Constitutional amendment (first reference); marriage between two individuals; 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provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015).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 prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from denying the issuance of a marriage license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. The Commonwealth and its political subdivisions are required to recognize any lawful marriage between two parties and to treat such marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. The amendment provides that religious organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 11
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam P. Ebbin | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Jennifer Boysko | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 38 |
| Laura Jane Cohen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15 |
| Josh Cole | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 65 |
| Kelly Fowler | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 96 |
| Angelia Graves | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 21 |
| Ghazala F. Hashmi | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| J.R. Henson | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 19 |
| Patrick Hope | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1 |
| Dave Marsden | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 35 |
| Jeremy McPike | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 29 |
| Stella Pekarsky | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 36 |
| Saddam Salim | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 37 |
| Mark D. Sickles | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Privileges and Elections
- Continued to 2025 in Privileges and Elections (14-Y 0-N)
- Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101222D