# Virginia HJ3: Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry.

Virginia HJ3, Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mark D. Sickles (Democratic); status adopted, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0975)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HJ3-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HJ3
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry.
- Status: adopted
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-11-17
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0975)
- Sponsor: Mark D. Sickles (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (119 yes, 53 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## 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provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015).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.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Equal marriage rights for Virginia adults: benefit, high. Virginia’s Constitution removes the same-sex marriage ban and protects marriage as a fundamental personal right. State and local governments cannot deny licenses based on sex, gender, or race when two adults seek a lawful marriage. They must recognize every lawful marriage between two adults. Those…
- Virginia lifts ban on marriage-like statuses: benefit, medium. The amendment removes constitutional bans on creating or recognizing legal statuses that resemble marriage or carry marriage-like rights and duties. Virginia and local governments may create or recognize these statuses for unmarried people. This change does not itself create a new status or give un…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mark D. Sickles (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-01-16 | Senate | Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-16 | Senate | Senator Jordan, Emily M. Amendment rejected | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-16 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 26 | 13 |   |
| 2026-01-14 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 16 | 6 |   |
| 2026-01-14 | House | Agreed to by House | pass | 67 | 31 |   |
| 2026-01-14 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 10 | 3 |   |

## Actions (19)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0975) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Assigned Chapter 975 (Effective 7/1/2026) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ3ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Passed Senate (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Senator Jordan, Emily M. Amendment rejected (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Agreed to by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Agreed to by House (67-Y 31-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-01-14: Engrossed by House (House)
- 2026-01-14: Taken up (House)
- 2026-01-14: Reported from Privileges and Elections (16-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Reported from Privileges and Elections (10-Y 3-N) (Senate)
- 2025-11-17: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2025-11-17: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101634D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224863.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224862.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090225.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090224.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089314.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-11-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081221.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081220.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/1224863.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224862.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090225.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090224.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089314.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081221.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081220.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-HJ3-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).