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SJ3 • 2026

Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry.

Proposing an amendment to Section 15-A of Article I of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry.

Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Ebbin
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry.

Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry.

What This Bill Does

  • 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provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v.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).

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SJ3AS2

2026-01-16 • Member

Senator Jordan Amendment

Plain English: 1/16/2026 SJ 3 SEN.

  • 1/16/2026 SJ 3 SEN.
  • JORDAN [REJECTED] 1.
  • After line 31, introduced insert No member of the church or clergy shall be required to perform any sacrament of marriage that goes against their religious beliefs.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 979 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-13 House

    Assigned Chapter 979 (Effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0979)

  4. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0979)

  5. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  6. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  7. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ3ER)

  8. 2026-02-02 House

    Taken up

  9. 2026-02-02 House

    Agreed to by House (61-Y 32-N 0-A)

  10. 2026-01-30 Privileges and Elections

    Reported from Privileges and Elections (16-Y 6-N)

  11. 2026-01-20 Privileges and Elections

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

  12. 2026-01-16 Senate

    Read third time

  13. 2026-01-16 Senate

    Agreed to by Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A)

  14. 2026-01-16 Senate

    Reconsideration of (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  15. 2026-01-16 Senate

    Agreed to by Senate (26-Y 12-N 0-A)

  16. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Read second time

  17. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Passed by temporarily

  18. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Reading of amendment waived

  19. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Amendment by Senator rejected

  20. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate

  21. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  22. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)

  23. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senator Jordan Amendment rejected (19-Y 20-N 0-A)

  24. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  25. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Floor offered

  26. 2026-01-14 Privileges and Elections

    Reported from Privileges and Elections (10-Y 4-N)

  27. 2026-01-14 Senate

    Read first time

  28. 2025-11-17 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100274D

  29. 2025-11-17 Privileges and Elections

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

Official Summary Text

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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Proposing an amendment to Section 15-A of Article I of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry.
Agreed to by the Senate, January 16, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 2, 2026
WHEREAS, a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Virginia, hereinafter set forth, was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses of the General Assembly at the regular session of 2025 and referred to this, the next regular session held after the 2025 general election of members of the House of Delegates, as required by the Constitution of Virginia; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the following amendment to the Constitution of Virginia be, and the same hereby is, proposed in conformity with the provisions of Section 1 of Article XII of the Constitution of Virginia, namely:
Amend Section 15-A of Article I of the Constitution of Virginia as follows:
ARTICLE I
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 15-A. Marriage.
That
only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions
marriage is one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness
.
This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not
create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage
deny 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
.
Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.
This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall recognize any lawful marriage between two adult persons and treat such marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex, gender, or race of such persons.