Constitutional amendment (first resolution); marriage. (SJ214)

Introduced By

Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) with support from 7 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Rob Krupicka (D-Alexandria), Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston), Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), Sen. John Edwards (D-Roanoke), Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington), Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston), Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate

Description

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); marriage. Proposes the repeal of the constitutional amendment dealing with marriage that was approved by referendum at the November 2006 election. That amendment to the Bill of Rights (i) defines marriage as "only a union between one man and one woman"; (ii) prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing "a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage"; and (iii) prohibits the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing "another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage." Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
10/08/2014Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/15 15100385D
10/08/2014Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/22/2015Assigned to P&E sub: Constitutional Amendments
01/27/2015Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: HJ493, SJ1 and SJ283.

Comments

Secular Coalition for Virginia, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The Secular Coalition of Virginia supports this bill and all efforts to correct discrimination against the gay community currently codified in Virginia law.

ACLU-VA LGBT Rights, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia supports this resolution that would begin the process of amending the Virginia constitution to repeal the discriminatory provision that limits marriage to one man and one woman and bans all recognition of same sex relationships.