# Virginia SJ3: Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry.

Virginia SJ3, Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic); status adopted, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0979)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SJ3-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SJ3
- 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: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-11-17
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0979)
- Sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (194 yes, 90 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## 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provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015).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 couples: benefit, high. The law approves a constitutional amendment replacing Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban with an equal right to marry. The amendment bars state and local governments from denying two adults a marriage license because of sex, gender, or race. It requires equal treatment and recognition of lawful marri…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Agreed to by House | pass | 61 | 32 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 16 | 6 |   |
| 2026-01-16 | Senate | Agreed to by Senate | pass | 23 | 16 |   |
| 2026-01-16 | Senate | Agreed to by Senate | pass | 26 | 12 |   |
| 2026-01-16 | Senate | Reconsideration of | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-15 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-15 | Senate | Senator Jordan Amendment rejected | fail | 19 | 20 |   |
| 2026-01-14 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 10 | 4 |   |

## Actions (23)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0979) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Assigned Chapter 979 (Effective 7/1/2026) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ3ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Agreed to by House (61-Y 32-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Taken up (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Privileges and Elections (16-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-01-20: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2026-01-16: Agreed to by Senate (26-Y 12-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Reconsideration of (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Agreed to by Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Floor offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Senator Jordan Amendment rejected (19-Y 20-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Reading of amendment waived (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Passed by temporarily (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Read first time (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Reported from Privileges and Elections (10-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2025-11-17: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2025-11-17: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100274D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224879.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224878.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107851.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107850.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089482.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-11-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081182.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081181.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/1224879.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224878.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107851.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107850.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089482.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081182.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081181.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-SJ3-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).