# Virginia HB905: Persons other than ministers who may perform rites of marriage; clerk may issue order.

Virginia HB905, Persons other than ministers who may perform rites of marriage; clerk may issue order., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Alfonso H. Lopez (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0437)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB905-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB905
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Persons other than ministers who may perform rites of marriage; clerk may issue order.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0437)
- Sponsor: Alfonso H. Lopez (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (249 yes, 69 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Persons other than ministers who may perform rites of marriage; clerk; issuance of order; bond requirement. Provides that a clerk of a circuit court may issue an order authorizing one or more persons to celebrate the rites of marriage in the Commonwealth. Under current law, only a circuit court judge may issue such an order. The bill further makes discretionary the entrance into a bond in the penalty of $500 prior to performing the rites of marriage for a person authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage; under current law, such entry is mandatory. Finally, the bill civilly immunizes the clerk of any circuit court from a cause of action arising from the issuance or rescinding of such order, absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Lawsuit protection for marriage authorization clerks: benefit, low. Virginia circuit court clerks are protected from civil lawsuits over issuing or canceling orders allowing people to perform marriages. This protection does not cover gross negligence, meaning very serious carelessness, or willful misconduct, meaning intentional wrongdoing.
- More marriage officiants, with authorization costs: mixed, low. Virginia circuit court clerks can authorize people to perform marriages statewide, without requiring them to live in the clerk’s circuit. Applicants must file an application and pay applicable clerk’s fees. Clerks may require a $500 bond before the person performs marriages, with or without a finan…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Alfonso H. Lopez (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-11 | House | Senate amendments agreed to by House | pass | 73 | 24 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendments | pass | 24 | 16 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments | pass | 9 | 5 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 75 | 22 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) | pass | 21 | 1 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 7 | 1 |   |

## Actions (31)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0437) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0437) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 437 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB905ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Senate amendments agreed to by House (73-Y 24-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-10: Passed Senate with amendments (24-Y 16-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Read third time and passed House (75-Y 22-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-09: committee amendment agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (21-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: Assigned HCJ sub: Civil (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104636D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217866.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217865.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212444.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212443.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1204039.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199531.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197359.HTML)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131971.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131970.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127432.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100655.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086392.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086391.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/1217866.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217865.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212444.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212443.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1204039.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199531.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197359.HTML)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131971.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131970.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127432.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100655.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086392.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086391.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB905-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).