# Virginia SJ11: Constitutional amendment; marriage between two individuals.

Virginia SJ11, Constitutional amendment; marriage between two individuals., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic); status failed, last action 2024-11-19 (Left in Privileges and Elections) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SJ11-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SJ11
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Constitutional amendment; marriage between two individuals.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2024-01-03
- Last action: 2024-11-19, Left in Privileges and Elections
- Sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (14 yes, 0 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provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015).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: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-01-16 | Senate | Continued to 2025 in Privileges and Elections | pass | 14 | 0 |   |

## Actions (4)

- 2024-11-19: Left in Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2024-01-16: Continued to 2025 in Privileges and Elections (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2024-01-03: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2024-01-03: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101222D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SJ11)

## 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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SJ11)

## 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-SJ11-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).