Bill
Bill > HJR3
VA HJR3
VA HJR3Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry.
summary
Introduced
11/17/2025
11/17/2025
In Committee
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
Crossed Over
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
Passed
01/16/2026
01/16/2026
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage between two adult persons; 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provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015).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 prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from denying the issuance of a marriage license to two adult persons seeking a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such persons. The Commonwealth and its political subdivisions are required to recognize any lawful marriage between two adult persons and to treat such marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex, gender, or race of such persons.
AI Summary
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to modify Section 15-A of Virginia's Constitution regarding marriage. The amendment would replace the previous language that defined marriage exclusively as a union between one man and one woman with a new provision affirming marriage as a vital personal right. It would prohibit the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from denying marriage licenses to two adult persons based on sex, gender, or race, and require the recognition and equal legal treatment of lawful marriages between two adult persons, regardless of the sex, gender, or race of the persons involved. This change effectively repeals the previous same-sex marriage prohibition and aligns the state constitution with the 2015 United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The proposed amendment follows the constitutional procedure of being agreed to by a majority of members in both legislative houses and will be referred to the next regular session after the 2025 general election.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (76)
Mark Sickles (D)*,
Kimberly Adams (D),
Lashrecse Aird (D),
Jessica Anderson (D),
Bonita Anthony (D),
Alex Askew (D),
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D),
Jennifer Boysko (D),
David Bulova (D),
Katrina Callsen (D),
Kacey Carnegie (D),
Betsy Carr (D),
Stacey Carroll (D),
Nadarius Clark (D),
Laura Jane Cohen (D),
Joshua Cole (D),
Nicole Cole (D),
Kelly Convirs-Fowler (D),
Rae Cousins (D),
Karrie Delaney (D),
Lindsey Dougherty (D),
Mark Downey (D),
Adam Ebbin (D),
Barbara Favola (D),
Michael Feggans (D),
Lily Franklin (D),
Debra Gardner (D),
Jackie Glass (D),
Elizabeth Guzmán (D),
Ghazala Hashmi (D),
C.E. Hayes (D),
Dan Helmer (D),
J.R. Henson (D),
Phil Hernandez (D),
Charniele Herring (D),
Patrick Hope (D),
Michael Jones (D),
Karen Keys-Gamarra (D),
Paul Krizek (D),
Amy Laufer (D),
Destiny LeVere Bolling (D),
Mamie Locke (D),
Michelle Lopes-Maldonado (D),
Alfonso Lopez (D),
Fernando Martinez (D),
John Chilton McAuliff (D),
Adele McClure (D),
Jeremy McPike (D),
Delores McQuinn (D),
Leslie Chambers Mehta (D),
Candi Mundon King (D),
May Nivar (D),
Marcia Price (D),
Sam Rasoul (D),
Atoosa Reaser (D),
David Reid (D),
Danica Roem (D),
Saddam Salim (D),
Don Scott (D),
Holly Seibold (D),
Briana Sewell (D),
Irene Shin (D),
Marcus Simon (D),
Shelly Simonds (D),
J.J. Singh (D),
Kannan Srinivasan (D),
Richard Sullivan (D),
Josh Thomas (D),
Virgil Thornton (D),
Luke Torian (D),
Kathy Tran (D),
Schuyler VanValkenburg (D),
Jeion Ward (D),
Vivian Watts (D),
Rodney Willett (D),
Angelia Williams Graves (D),
Last Action
Agreed to by Senate (on 01/16/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HJ3 |
| Senator Jordan, Emily M. Amendment | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HJ3/text/HJ3AS1 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HJ3/text/HJ3 |
Loading...