# Virginia HB612: Constitutional amendment; marriage between two adult persons, repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition.

Virginia HB612, Constitutional amendment; marriage between two adult persons, repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Laura Jane Cohen (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-02-11 (Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB612)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB612-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB612
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Constitutional amendment; marriage between two adult persons, repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-02-11, Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB612)
- Sponsor: Laura Jane Cohen (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (114 yes, 59 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2026, general election to approve or reject an amendment that requires the equal treatment under the law of a lawful marriage between two adult persons regardless of the sex, gender, or race of such persons. The amendment also repeals the current provision that defines marriage as only a union between one man and one woman. This bill is identical to SB 311.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Virginia voters decide equal marriage protections: benefit, high. The law places a marriage amendment on Virginia’s November 3, 2026 ballot. Approval by a majority voting on the amendment is required for it to take effect January 1, 2027. Upon approval, it removes the state Constitution’s same-sex marriage ban. It bars denying two adults a marriage license becaus…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Laura Jane Cohen (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 24 | 16 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 8 | 5 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 66 | 32 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute | pass | 16 | 6 |   |

## Actions (28)

- 2026-02-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB612) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0001) (Governor)
- 2026-02-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0001) (Governor)
- 2026-02-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0001) (Governor)
- 2026-02-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1 (effective July 1, 2026) (Governor)
- 2026-02-04: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB612ER) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-02-04: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., February 11, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-02-04: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on February 04, 2026 (House)
- 2026-02-04: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-02: Passed Senate (24-Y 16-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Read third time and passed House (66-Y 32-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-01-29: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-01-28: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-01-28: Read second time (House)
- 2026-01-27: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-23: Committee substitute printed 26105972D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-23: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (16-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-01-22: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-01-22: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101672D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169218.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169217.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108646.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108645.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094919.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094918.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094403.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094402.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085172.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085171.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169218.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169217.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108646.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108645.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094919.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094918.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094403.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094402.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085172.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085171.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB612-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).