Bills & Legislation

Commending Marta Keane.

Commending Marta Keane.

Katrina CallsenDemocrat

Commending the Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.

Commending the Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.

Jason S. BallardRepublican

Commending Judy Simmons.

Commending Judy Simmons.

Daniel W. Marshall, IIIRepublican

Celebrating the lives of Olivia Eve Ter and Olesya Taylor.

Celebrating the lives of Olivia Eve Ter and Olesya Taylor.

Elizabeth B. Bennett-ParkerDemocrat

Commending Literacy for Life.

Commending Literacy for Life.

Amanda E. BattenRepublican

Commending Woodlawn Little League.

Commending Woodlawn Little League.

Paul E. KrizekDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Peggy Lynn Davis.

Celebrating the life of Peggy Lynn Davis.

Mike A. CherryRepublican

Commending Haidee Schiflett Ratliff.

Commending Haidee Napier Ratliff.

Mike A. CherryRepublican

Commending the Tunstall High School chapter of Future Farmers of America.

Commending the Tunstall High School chapter of Future Farmers of America.

Eric PhillipsRepublican

Commending Sin Barreras.

Commending Sin Barreras.

Katrina CallsenDemocrat

Commending the McLean Community Center.

Commending the McLean Community Center.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Commending Spring Hill Elementary School.

Commending Spring Hill Elementary School.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Commending Todd Biller.

Commending Todd Biller.

Tony O. WiltRepublican

Commending Carlos Cañas

Commending Carlos Cañas.

Alfonso H. LopezDemocrat

Commending Halley Elementary School.

Commending Halley Elementary School.

Kathy K.L. TranDemocrat

Commending Donna T. Rogers.

Commending Donna T. Rogers.

Geary HigginsRepublican

Celebrating the life of Lewis S. Wiley.

Celebrating the life of Lewis S. Wiley.

Geary HigginsRepublican

Commending Paul M. Platt.

Commending Paul M. Platt.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

Commending the Virginia Poultry Federation.

Commending the Virginia Poultry Federation.

Chris S. RunionRepublican

Commending Providence Baptist Church.

Commending Providence Baptist Church.

Marty MartinezDemocrat

Commending no-kill animal rescues and shelters in Virginia.

Commending no-kill animal rescues and shelters in Virginia.

Marty MartinezDemocrat

Commending Barry Eugene DuVal.

Commending Barry Eugene DuVal.

Betsy B. CarrDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Joseph Haynes Monk.

Celebrating the life of Joseph Haynes Monk.

Betsy B. CarrDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Cloyd Kent Titus, M.D.

Celebrating the life of Cloyd Kent Titus, M.D.

Betsy B. CarrDemocrat

Commending Melvin Carter.

Commending Melvin Carter.

Betsy B. CarrDemocrat

Commending Fox Mill Woods Swim and Tennis Club.

Commending Fox Mill Woods Swim and Tennis Club.

Irene ShinDemocrat

Commending Sterner's Tae Kwon Do Academy.

Commending Sterner's Tae Kwon Do Academy.

Irene ShinDemocrat

Commending the Herndon Village Network.

Commending the Herndon Village Network.

Irene ShinDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Augustine Joseph Matson.

Celebrating the life of Augustine Joseph Matson.

Paul E. KrizekDemocrat

Constitutional amendment; marriage between two adult persons.

Constitutional amendment (first 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.

Adam P. EbbinDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Patricia W. Lovelace.

Celebrating the life of Patricia W. Lovelace.

Betsy B. CarrDemocrat

Commending Mekhi Becton, Sr.

Commending Mekhi Becton, Sr.

Delores L. McQuinnDemocrat

Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom (first reference).

Constitutional amendment (first reference); fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Provides that every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom and that such right shall not be denied, burdened, or infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest, defined within the text of the amendment, and achieved by the least restrictive means. The amendment allows the Commonwealth to regulate the provision of abortion care in the third trimester when it is medically indicated to protect the life or health of the pregnant individual or when the fetus is not viable. The amendment prohibits the Commonwealth from penalizing, prosecuting, or taking adverse action against an individual for exercising the individual's right to reproductive freedom or for aiding another individual in the exercise of such right.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

Commending Norfolk State University.

Commending Norfolk State University.

Candi Mundon KingDemocrat

Commending Paula Loomis.

Commending Paula Loomis.

Bonita G. AnthonyDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Donald W. Foster, Sr.

Celebrating the life of Donald W. Foster, Sr.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

Commending the McGaheysville Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Commending the McGaheysville Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Tony O. WiltRepublican

Commending Anthony Guy Bennett.

Commending Anthony Guy Bennett.

JJ SinghDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Jake Kincaid.

Celebrating the life of Jake Kincaid.

James W. MorefieldRepublican

Commending Claire Collins.

Commending Claire Collins.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Commending the McLean Citizens Association.

Commending the McLean Citizens Association.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Commending Virginia History Day students and teachers.

Commending Virginia History Day students and teachers.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Commending the Stroke Comeback Center.

Commending the Stroke Comeback Center.

Holly M. SeiboldDemocrat

Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, right to vote, persons not entitled to vote.

Constitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Provides that every person who meets the qualifications of voters set forth in the Constitution of Virginia shall have the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth and that such right shall not be abridged by law, except for persons who have been convicted of a felony and persons who have been adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. A person who has been convicted of a felony shall not be entitled to vote during any period of incarceration for such felony conviction, but upon release from incarceration for that felony conviction and without further action required of him, such person shall be invested with all political rights, including the right to vote. Currently, in order to be qualified to vote a person convicted of a felony must have his civil rights restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. The amendment also provides that a person adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction as lacking the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote during this period of incapacity until his capacity has been reestablished as prescribed by law. Currently, the Constitution of Virginia provides that a person who has been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent is not qualified to vote until his competency is reestablished.

Elizabeth B. Bennett-ParkerDemocrat

Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom (first reference).

Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom (first reference). Provides that every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom and that such right shall not be, directly or indirectly, denied, burdened, or infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest, as defined in the amendment, and achieved by the least restrictive means. The amendment specifies that, notwithstanding the other provisions of amendment, the Commonwealth may regulate the provision of abortion care in the third trimester, provided that in no circumstance shall the Commonwealth prohibit an abortion (i) that in the professional judgment of a physician is medically indicated to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual or (ii) when in the professional judgment of a physician the fetus is not viable.

Charniele L. HerringDemocrat

Commending the Honorable Donald W. Merricks.

Commending the Honorable Donald W. Merricks.

Daniel W. Marshall, IIIRepublican

Constitutional amendment; marriage between two adult persons.

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.

Mark D. SicklesDemocrat