# Virginia HJ9: Constitutional amendment; marriage between two adult persons. Virginia HJ9, Constitutional amendment; marriage between two adult persons., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mark D. Sickles (Democratic); status adopted, last action 2025-03-24 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0602)) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HJ9-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HJ9 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Constitutional amendment; marriage between two adult persons. - Status: adopted - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2024-01-03 - Last action: 2025-03-24, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0602) - Sponsor: Mark D. Sickles (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 6 (147 yes, 60 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Constitutional amendment (first reference); marriage between two individuals; 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provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015).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 provides that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of persons and prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from denying the issuance of a marriage license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. The Commonwealth and its political subdivisions are required to recognize any lawful marriage between two parties and to treat such marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. The amendment provides that religious organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to perform any marriage. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Mark D. Sickles (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-01-31 | Senate | Agreed to by Senate | pass | 24 | 15 | | | 2025-01-30 | Senate | Reading waived Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-01-28 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 10 | 5 | | | 2025-01-14 | House | Agreed to by House | pass | 58 | 35 | 2 | | 2024-11-13 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute | pass | 16 | 5 | | | 2024-02-09 | House | Continued to 2025 in Privileges and Elections (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | ## Actions (26) - 2025-03-24: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0602) (Governor) - 2025-03-24: Assigned Chapter 602 (Effective 07/01/25) (House) - 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ9ER) (House) - 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House) - 2025-01-31: Agreed to by Senate (24-Y 15-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-31: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-01-30: Reading waived Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-30: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-01-30: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-01-28: Reported from Privileges and Elections (10-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-15: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate) - 2025-01-15: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2025-01-15: Laid on Clerk's Desk (Senate) - 2025-01-15: Received (Senate) - 2025-01-14: Agreed to by House (58-Y 35-N 2-A) (House) - 2025-01-14: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2025-01-14: Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to (House) - 2025-01-14: Taken up (House) - 2025-01-13: Passed by for the day (House) - 2024-11-13: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (16-Y 5-N) (House) - 2024-11-13: Committee substitute printed 25101510D-H1 (House) - 2024-02-09: Continued to 2025 in Privileges and Elections (Voice Vote) (House) - 2024-01-03: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House) - 2024-01-03: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101382D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1078106.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1078105.PDF) - Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069268.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069267.PDF) - Substitute, 2024-11-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1011508.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1011507.PDF) - Introduced, 2024-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1006376.HTM), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1006142.PDF) ## Related bills - HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted) - SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed) - HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed) - HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed) - SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed) - HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor) ## Sources - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1078106.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1078105.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069268.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069267.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1011508.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1011507.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1006376.HTM) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1006142.PDF) ## Related - [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025) - [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025) - [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025) - [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025) - [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025) - [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025) - [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-HJ9-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).